The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kafanchan

  • 24- hour curfew imposed on Kafanchan

    Jema’a Local Government Council authority of Kaduna State has imposed a 24 hour curfew on Kafanchan and its environs to prevent further break down of law and order following a massive protest by youths of Kafanchan.

    The youths have been protesting what they called unending killings in Southern Kaduna and the inability of the government and security agents to put the situation under control.

    Interim Chairman of Jema’a local government, Dr. Bege Katuka who confirmed the development via a telephone interview hinted that the decision became necessary to forestall any possible breakdown of law and order in his jurisdiction.

    According to the council chair, “as a responsible government, it was incumbent on the Council to take proactive measures to guarantee the safety of lives and property.”

    He urged the people to be calm and remain indoors until the situation improves.

    The protest, which was staged on Monday morning alleged government of insensitivity to the unending terror acts that have claimed scores of lives and property.

    Spokesperson of the youths, Mr. Nathan Chaweson regretted the high level of impunity exhibited by the the attackers even with the presence of security operatives at flashpoints.

    Chaweson lamented government’s failure to guarantee the security of the people, adding that for the period the attacks lasted, no single arrest had been recorded.

    According to him, “We are pushed to the wall to question the innocence of the government in what has been happening”.

    He however demanded that the government rise to its responsibility of protecting lives and property in all parts of the state to give everyone a sense of belonging.

    The protesting youths were seen with leaves and placards with different inscriptions, including, ‘government should end killings in Southern Kaduna’ and ‘arrest our attackers’, among others.

    Jema’a and Kauru Local Government Areas, both in the Southern Kaduna have in the recent past suffered series of attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, leading to killings of many people and property destroyed.

  • Govt imposes 24-hour curfew on Kafanchan

    A 24-hour curfew has been imposed on Kafanchan, Kaduna State, after youths set up road blocks and burnt vehicles on the Kafanchan-Kagoro road, in retaliation of last Saturday’s attack, which left 20 people dead in Godogodo.

    The retaliation was believed to have been carried out by herdsmen who, for two months, had engaged locals in a series of attacks and counter attacks.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several people were killed and property worth millions of naira destroyed from both parties.

    Interim Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Dr Bege Katuka said the curfew would remain in force until normalcy returns, noting that the measure was to further check the breach of the law by youths, who set up illegal road blocks.

    “What is most paramount now is the security of life and property of the people. Security agents will not relent in their effort to repel the attackers,” he added.

    The council chairman, therefore, urged residents to remain calm and not to take the law into their hands.

    Katuka advised the people to remain indoors, explaining that the curfew would allow security agents carry out operations to restore peace.

  • KDSG to spend N1.4bn on water rehabilitation

    KDSG to spend N1.4bn on water rehabilitation

    Kaduna State Government says it will spend over N1.4 billion to rehabilitate seven water treatment plants cross the state, to boost water supply.

    The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Lere disclosed this while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting.

    He said the council has approved the immediate commencement of work on the seven water treatment plants.

    Lere said that the project would be conducted in phases, with the first phase involving the plants located in Saminaka, Kafanchan, Manchok and Kagoro.

    “The second phase will be followed by the three plants within Kaduna metropolis.

    “These include the Malali old treatment plant, the Kaduna South plant which has 27 million litres daily capacity and the plant in Kaduna North, also situated at Malali with 150 million litre per day capacity.”

    According to the commissioner, the objective of the project is to restore the treatment plants back to their optimum capacity.

    “Prior to now, I have made pronouncements on the deplorable condition of the plants and the fact that they have not been able to produce optimal quantity of the potable water that they were designed to produce.

    “The essence of the rehabilitation work is to bring them up to their designed capacity, to increase and enhance the quantity of potable water to residents,” he said.

    Lere disclosed that the government had also signed a contract for the supply of operational vehicles for the state water corporation.

    He said that 45 Toyota Hilux vehicles and 203 motorcycles would be supplied at the cost of N800 million.

    According to him, funding for the projects, which also involves supply of heavy duty vehicles, was gotten from African Development Bank.

  • Police arrest five for alleged gunrunning in Kafanchan

    The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested five suspected manufacturers of arms at Karoik village, near Kafanchan, in Jema’a Local Government Area.

    Police spokesman Zubairu Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the five suspects were members of an 11-member gang accused of manufacturing and selling guns to criminals.

    He said five of their collaborators were apprehended on July 31 while the gang leader was still at large.

    Abubakar said: “Two locally-made AK-47 rifles, two pistols, one sub-machine gun (SMG), parts of locally-made AK-47, a drilling machine and materials for gun fabrication as well as several rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the first five suspects arrested in July.”

    The spokesman said the suspects were arrested at the village on August 28, following a tip-off.

    He said: “The suspects were in possession of a Barreta pistol and five live ammunition.”

    The police spokesman said a robbery suspect, believed to be terrorising Kidanda and Bango villages in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, was also arrested.

    “The suspect was arrested while in possession of a stolen motorcycle and clothing materials reportedly robbed from their owners,” he added.

    Abubakar said the suspects would soon be arraigned.

     

  • 24-hour curfew in Kafanchan

    24-hour curfew has been imposed on Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, following the alleged killing of two youths.

    The youths were said to be part of a crowd, which demanded jungle justice for 32 suspected Fulani men arrested with weapons by the Army in Kafanchan.

    Governor Ramalan Yero called on residents to remain calm and law abiding, saying the government is working to sustain peace.

    A statement by Yero’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki, urged the people to remain calm and desist from taking laws into their hands to avoid throwing the state into confusion and anarchy.

    Yero said security operatives had intensified surveillance across the state aimed at foiling any attempt by miscreants and criminals to attack residents.

    “This is not the time for people to obstruct the course of justice by attempting to perpetrate barbaric acts of jungle justice. Government and security forces will never allow people take law in their hands.

    “We want to assure the people of Kaduna State that in our resolve to end the spate of unwarranted attacks on innocent citizens, Government will continue to work with security agencies to ensure that those behind the killings in the state are brought to justice.

    “This will be vigorously pursued without fear or favour.”

    Police spokesman Aminu Lawan said he could not comment on the issue as it was an Army operation.

    “It was the Army that arrested the people. It was the Army that was said to have shot people. They have not briefed us. I cannot speak for them,” he said.

    The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Office ,1 Mechanised Infantry Division, Kaduna, Col. Usman Abdul, said though he had heard of the arrests and the violence in Kafanchan, he has not been sufficiently briefed to make any statement to the press.

    The Council Chairman, Daniel Amos, imposed a 24-hour curfew on the local government after seeking the permission of the state government.

  • Police: two killed in Kaduna

    Police: two killed in Kaduna

    The police in Kaduna State have confirmed that two persons were killed in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area, following a clash between nomads and  residents.

    Police spokesman Aminu Lawal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that four were injured during the clash on Sunday.

    Lawal said some settlements belonging to nomads were burnt. The victims are receiving treatment at the Kafanchan General Hospital.

    He said although details of the clash had not been provided, security had been strengthened in the area.

    “Normalcy has been restored, as our men are on ground to forestall any breach of peace.’’