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Tag: Kajuru

  • Kajuru: Suspected killer of Adara traditional ruler arrested

     

     

    Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested the suspected kidnapper and killer of the traditional ruler of Adara chiefdom in Kaduna state, Maiwada Galadima.

    The monarch was killed in October, 2018 on his way to his palace after accompanying Governor Nasir el-Rufai to Kasuwan Maga to commiserate with the community over a violence that claimed many lives.

    The police said the suspect, Abubakar Ibrahim alias Dan Habu, 37, and a native of Kabam in Igabi local Government Area of Kaduna state confessed to kidnapping and killing the traditional ruler.

    A statement in Abuja by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba also stated the operatives arrested 17 other suspected notorious kidnappers belonging to various gangs.

    They recovered 22 AK 47 riffles, five locally fabricated pistols and a cache of live ammunition from them.

    Mba attributed the success made to the arrest of the “Spiritual Father” of kidnappers and armed bandits operating in the northern part of the country, Mallam Salisu Abubakar.

    He said Police detectives attached to Operation Puff Adder, through a series of detailed, intensive and sustained investigative operations successfully arrested 18 more notorious kidnappers and armed robbers at different times and places across the country.

    On how the arrest was made, he said: “The combined team of crack detectives from IRT, TIU and other Operatives, using actionable intelligence obtained from the spiritual god father of the kidnappers and other multiple sources, tactically “smoked out” the kidnappers and armed bandits from their hide-outs in Birnin Gwari, Rijana, Katari, Mai Daro and Buruku forests in Kaduna State before they were eventually arrested at different locations and times in Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Kogi states respectively.”

    He said investigations carried out have positively linked the arrested suspects to some of the most heinous crimes committed in kaduna States and its environs in recent times.

    “Specifically for example, Abubakar Ibrahim alias Dan Habu, aged 37 years and a native of Kabam in Igabi local Government Area of Kaduna state, who was arrested on the 15th April 2019 at Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, confessed to the Kidnapping and gruesome murder of HRH King Agom Adara of Kajuru LGA and many other kidnappings and murders.

    READ ALSO: We worked hard to rescue Agom Adara from kidnappers – El-Rufai

    “Similarly, the arrested gang members were also indicted by investigations for the kidnap and murder of Mallam Yakubu Usman, 40 years old male of Jere LGA, Kaduna State and many other crimes.”

    Mba said the 18 male suspects are currently in Police custody and assisting in the on-going investigations.

    The suspects are: Johnson Okafor 44 years native of Anambra State and resident of Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State; Shaibu Iliyasu Alias Smally, 20 years native of Rijiana Kaduna Road Abuja; Ishaik Dabo Alias Keke 38 years native of Maraban Jos Igabi LGA of Kaduna State; Mohammed Nasiru 25 year native of Manunfashi LGA of Katsina State; Aminu Haruna 25 years native of Galadimawa Village in Giwa LGA of Kaduna State; Shafiu Alhaji Gudau 25 years native of Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State; Auwalu  Hamisu 24 years native of Tashan Fulani village in Manunfashi LGA of Katsina State and  Ado Ya’u, 35 years native of Rigoji Village in Kafur LGA of Katsina State.

    Others are: Ibrahim Yusuf, 30yrs native of Kujama Village Kaduna State; Ibrahim Audu, 22yrs native of Kujama Village Kaduna State; Salisu Ajah, 50yrs native of Galadimawa Village Giwa LGA Kaduna State; Nasiru Umaru, 25yrs native of Manumfashi LGA Katsina State; Magaji Abubakar, 27yrs native of Kujama Village Kaduna State; Salisu Ali, 18yrs native of Kujama Village Kaduna State; Lawal Shadari, 22yrs native of Rijiana Village Kaduna State; Junaidu Lawal, 18yrs native of Rijiana Village Kaduna State and Usman Musa, 43yrs native of Rijiana Village Kaduna State.

    He noted that the suspects who belong to different gangs are fairly independent but vicious criminal gangs, adding their operations are centrally coordinated by their spiritual god father Mallam Salisu Abubakar.

    The police noted that efforts are currently being intensified to arrest other gang members still at large, and recover all weapons in the gangs’ armory.

     

     

  • Briton killed in Kajuru, say police

    THE Police Command in Kaduna State has identified the expatriate killed by suspected kidnappers in Kajuru as Miss Faye Mooney, a Briton.

    Its Public Relation Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna, said Mooney was among the two people killed and three kidnapped on April 19 at a recreational resort in Kajuru Local Government Area by suspected kidnappers.

    Sabo said Mooney was a staff of Mercy Corps Nigeria.

    He added that the police were still on course to rescue the kidnapped victims and bring the perpetrators to book.

    On April 20, the command confirmed the killing of two persons and kidnap of three others at a recreational resort in Kajuru LGAs.

    ”At about 23:40hrs on Friday, some suspected kidnappers, armed with dangerous weapons, gained entry into a recreational resort called Kajuru Castle in Kajuru LGA.

    “The bandits shot sporadically and in the process shot dead two persons, including an expatriate lady and took away three others.”

    He added that patrol teams led by the DPO rushed to the scene and evacuated the victims to St. Gerald Hospital.

    Sabo said investigation revealed that the victims, along with 12 others, were tourists from Lagos, adding that the incident happened during the after party at the castle located at the Hill Top.

    “Normally, whenever such social events would happen, the organisers used to inform the police for security coverage, but the party was done without the knowledge of the police in the area as traditionally done.

    “However, intensive efforts are being made by the command to rescue the kidnapped persons, apprehend the fleeing culprits and bring them to justice.”

  • Police confirm killing of 21, rustling of 50 cows in Kajuru

    The Kaduna State Police Command on Monday confirmed the Killing of 21 persons and rustling of 50 cows in an attack by gunmen in Banono and Anguwan Aku villages in Kajuru Local Government Area in Kaduna State.

    The Command Public Relations officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, gave the confirmation in a statement issued in Kaduna.
    Sabo said the said incident happened on April 8, at about 0930Hours.

    “We received a distress call that a group of armed men in large number on motor bikes entered Banono and Anguwan Aku both are remote neighbouring villages in Kufana district of Kajuru LGA.

    “The attackers started shooting sporadically attacking the villagers and in the process shot and killed twenty one persons, injured three others and destroyed ten 10 houses.

    ” The bandits also rustled about fifty 50 cows,” he said.

    Sabo disclosed that a combined teams of Police Mobile Force personnel, conventional Police, Army and the local Vigilante were promptly mobilised to the area.

    He said they repelled the attack and evacuated both the dead and the injured to hospital.

    Read Also: Police identify those behind Rivers cult killings

    According to him, while efforts are on to apprend the fleeing criminals, reinforcement of more Police Operatives have been drafted to the area for intensive combing and patrol with a view to forestall further breakdown of law and order/reprisal and arrest the perpetrators.

    Sabo said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Abdurrahman is saddened by this attack and has reiterated the Command’s commitment to apprehend the culprits.

    “He sincerely condoled the affected families on the irreparable losses.

    “The Command appeals to members of the public to continue to assist the Police with useful information that could help in addressing these challenges and for the possible arrest of these criminals.” Sabo said.

  • Updated: Scores dead, 100 houses razed in renewed Kajuru attacks

    Barely two weeks after a violent crisis that claimed lives of many citizens in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna State, a fresh attack has been launched on villages in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas.

    Though, details of the attack were still sketchy at press time, The Nation learnt that over 100 houses and vehicles, including a police van, have been razed in Karamai village of Maro District, while many people have been killed.

    According to an eye witness, the renewed attack on the villages, came as armed bandits close to 100 stormed Karamai community with dangerous weapons, including guns and machetes.

    The eye witness told our Correspondent that villagers have fled Karamai.

    Read Also: Kaduna killings: Fulani groups dispute casualty figure, declare 131 dead

    Meanwhile, Kaduna State government, have condemned the renewed attacks.

    In a statement by the spokesperson to the State governor, Samuel Aruwan assured that the security agencies are working assiduously to contain the situation.

    The government however urged all residents of the areas to support the security agencies in their efforts to protect communities, adding that, the government was saddened by the attacks.

    According to the statement, “Kaduna government today received the sad news of renewed attacks in Kajuru and Kachia local government areas. The government condemns this recourse to violence and calls on all communities to support the efforts to restore calm in the area.

    “Today, the Kaduna State Government was briefed by security agencies of renewed attacks in Kajuru local government area, and in parts of neighboring Kachia LGA.”….

  • Culpable descent

    •The Kajuru killings, in which communities trade blames instead of mutual empathy, is a descent into bestiality

    The meltdown last week in Kajuru, Kaduna State, is a crying shame on our dear country.  We demand that those in positions of authority should stop the spiral down to narcissism; and save the community before it is too late.

    Instead of mourning the tragic deaths of their fellow citizens, in circumstances that should make us all hide our heads in shame, commentators appear more concerned about the ethnic make-up of the dead. That is unacceptable.

    Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the Kaduna State governor, announced that the death toll in the community had risen to 130; and these deaths, in a state not at war with external enemies. The implication is fellow citizens in Kaduna State are killing one another.

    Though the governor had appealed to the Fulani, that bore the brunt of the 130 casualty figure, not to resort to reprisal attacks, an earlier casualty figure of 11, mainly of Adara locals of southern Kaduna, seemed to have triggered off the latest bout of killing and maiming.  Thus, it would appear, yet again, killings and counter-killings.  These periodic orgies of violence are absolutely condemnable.

    On February 20, the governor reported the death toll in Kajuru had risen to 130, after the initial announcement of 66.  But the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), the umbrella body of the area’s indigenes, as distinct from the other “Hausa-Fulani” bloc, buffeted the governor for allegedly keeping mute about the Adara 11, only to thunder over the Fulani 66.

    SOKAPU alleged the governor was playing a dangerous ethnic game, in the run-up to the crucial general elections.  But the governor had retorted that SOKAPU, and allies beyond the community, were playing politics with security matters, adding such alleged blackmail wouldn’t stop him from state duty, as Kaduna’s chief security officer (CSO) – and it shouldn’t.

    Unfortunately, however, the latest Kajuru killings mark what has become a murderous routine.  In the interest of our common humanity, these blood-letting must stop.  It is especially culpable that instead of mourning lost lives which can never be regained, the two blocs are trading blame, in a bizarre tale of complicity and counter-complicity. Such a murky relationship is unhelpful, as the parties need one another to achieve peace in the state. While the constitutionally recognised powers of the governor make him the CSO of the state, such powers become meaningless, if they are not exercised conscientiously.  Still, all these questions pale into insignificance, when we appreciate our compatriots are killing one another.

    So the governor, after taking measures to douse tension, must seek out why peace has eluded that area of the state. What could motivate indigenes to go after the settlers and vice versa? Are there factors that fuel up the hatred amongst those living in southern Kaduna? If there are, what can the state legitimately do to change the narrative? That will be the only justification to answer a government.

    A government turns a farce if it cannot provide the most fundamental essence of its existence – security of lives and property.  But citizens too, no matter what, must remember their shared humanity, not to talk of citizenship.  In moderating tempers in these challenging circumstances, the governor must tone down on rhetoric, which could be misinterpreted as aiding one side of the dispute.  But SOKAPU too must learn to eschew a siege mentality, which reads motives to even the most innocuous of actions. Dwellers of southern Kaduna, indeed, the whole of the country, must learn to live in peace with one another.  But the surest guarantor of peace is justice.  That is what the government must secure for everyone.

    Kaduna State has had enough bloodshed. Those in authority, at the local, state, community, and even religious and social levels, must eschew their differences and work to restore peace, founded on justice. The Federal Government must also support the state to ensure the safety of life and property.

  • Buhari condemns killings in Kajuru, Kaduna State

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday night said that he was “pained beyond words” by the news of the new wave of killings on election eve in Kaduna State.

    Reacting to the reports of violent killings in Kajuru local government, Kaduna State, President Buhari described it as an “act of cowardice.”

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President assured that security forces will investigate and apprehend all those involved.

    Read also: Election: FRSC sets up Situation Room

    “The perpetrators of this mayhem will not go unpunished,” said the President.

    He said that the action will not distract the nation from the elections starting tomorrow (today).

    His government, he said, is determined to foil the designs of those who want to disrupt the exercise.

  • Vaccination: Kaduna targets 422 hard-to-reach areas in 2018

    Vaccination: Kaduna targets 422 hard-to-reach areas in 2018

    The Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency says it will focus on hard-to-reach areas in 2018 in its total push to sustain vaccination in the state.

    The Agency’s Deputy Director, Hamza Ikara said in an interview on Monday in Kaduna that the agency had discovered 422 hard-to-reach communities across the state in 2017.

    “As part of this year activities, we are making a total complete push for vaccination from states, zone and local government level; we want to ensure maximum progress in routine immunisation.”

    According to him, the agency was unable to fully cover some areas in Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia and Birnin Gwari Local Governments due to security challenges in 2017.

    Read also: How Kaduna, Plateau, Ekiti others are managing menace

    “Due to insecurity in these local governments, we were able to discover 422 hard-to-reach communities which we intend to visit in this year’s immunisation exercise.

    “We also have shortage of manpower and inadequate funds to conduct our activities effectively.

    “But we conducted routine immunisation in 1,168 health facilities across the state and it is free.

    ‘We have trained traditional institutions including the Village, Districts and Ward heads to help in providing healthcare services in communities across the state.’

    He added that the agency gave out vaccines to 60 private health facilities in the state during the period under review.

    Ikara said the renovation of the 255 primary health centres in the state have reached 65 percent completion, adding that the government had purchased relevant equipment for the centres.

    “The renovation work has gone far by 65 percent and we have purchased health equipment waiting the completion so as to take them there.”

    The deputy director added that three cold store rooms have been provided at the agency’s zonal centres while plans were on to employ all cadres of health personnel.

    NAN

  • ACF condemns recent Kaduna killings

    ACF condemns recent Kaduna killings

    …Urges govt to strengthen peace process

    The apex northern socio-cultural body Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has described as saddening the spate of communal clashes in some parts of the North and in particular the recent one in Kajuru, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State where about 30 people were alleged to have been killed.

    Similarly ACF has equally urged the Kaduna state government to strengthen its peace building process by engaging the leaders of the affected communities in finding an endurable peace in the area.

    A statement issued Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Mohammad Ibrahim Biu, the forum averred that the communal reprisal clash between farmers and herders over simple disagreement with consequent loss of lives and destruction of property is most unfortunate and condemnable.

    ACF noted  that Communities that have lived together peacefully over the years should refrain from such avoidable violent conflicts that in most cases also destroy trust and harmony among communities, which is not helpful.

    It further stated that threats to our peace as a people and as a region have over years affected our peaceful coexistence, unity and socio-economic development, hence the need for us as Nigerians come together and stop such unfortunate and condemnable carnage that does no one any good.

    “Reprisal attacks are certainly not the best way to resolve disputes. ACF therefore calls upon the warring communities in Southern Kaduna and in other states to lay down their arms and embrace dialogue in resolving their disagreements. Leaders of the various communities should also play a greater role in ensuring that not only peace and harmony are restored in the affected areas but sustained.

    “ACF also commends the Military and other Security Agencies for their prompt intervention in the Kajuru crisis and urge them to sustain surveillance in the area until normalcy is fully restored. The Security Agencies should also fish out the perpetrators of this heinous crime and be made to face the law, lest criminals continue to hide under ethnicity or religion to commit crimes. This is to serve as deterrence for future occurrence”.

    ACF therefore commiserated with the victims of such violent clashes and appeal to the Kaduna State Government to provide rehabilitation materials to the affected communities.

     

  • Southern Kaduna killings: Osinbajo orders security reinforcements

    Southern Kaduna killings: Osinbajo orders security reinforcements

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered further security reinforcements in Kaduna State following reports of communal clashes that resulted in the loss of lives earlier this week in Kajuru, Kajuru Local Government Area of the State.

    Prof. Osinbajo, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, commiserated with families of the victims, the government and people of Kaduna State, and wished the injured victims speedy recovery.

    He also commended the prompt response and efforts of the State government, and those of the security agencies which contained the situation and restored the peace.

    While condemning the act of violence in strong terms, the Acting President noted that the security challenges in Southern Kaduna which has led to the needless deaths is a source of concern for the Federal government and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians.

    Noting previous and ongoing efforts of the Buhari administration to confront the situation, Prof. Osinbajo assured that no effort would be spared in identifying and bringing perpetrators of these dastardly acts, against innocent Nigerians to justice no matter how long or hard it may take.

    According to him, Nigerians in the area and everywhere in the country have a right to live in peace, and the Federal Government considers this its sacred duty.

    “We will not relent and won’t be deterred in our pursuit of securing the lives and property of all Nigerians, everywhere and in every part of this nation. In the end, we will not only secure the peace all around, but we shall enforce justice for the victims and all of those that are affected,” he declared.

     

  • Gunmen kill four policemen in Kaduna

    … Detained criminals released

    Unknown gunmen have killed four policemen in two separate attacks on a divisional police station in Kajuru, headquarters of Kajuru local government of area and in Nungu community in Sanga local government area of Kaduna State.

    The Nation learnt that while three policemen died in the attack in Kajuru, two persons, including a police officer died in the attack on Nungu community in what appeared to be a renewed wave of attack in the state.

    The gunmen who were said to have arrived Kajuru at about 11.30pm and armed with sophisticated weapons, launched an attack at the police station and freed all the suspected criminals detained there.

    Sources said that two of the policemen on duty died on the spot while the third one said to be a police woman died on the way to hospital.

    The Nation was informed that some of the policemen on duty at the time of the attack had to disguise as criminals to escape the superior fire power of the attackers, while others ran into the bush.

    One of the policemen who survived the attack told journalists that the gunmen stormed the police station in several vehicles and started shooting sporadically as they arrived the police station.

    “We were not many and we couldn’t stand their sophisticated weapons. They killed three of our colleagues; an inspector and a sergeant were killed. Two or three of our colleagues sustained serious injuries and were being rushed to the hospital in Kaduna. A female police officer died on the way to the hospital.

    “They (gunmen) came around 11:30pm yesterday (on Monday) and they operated for about one hour. It was the mobile police located in a different location that safe the situation; otherwise they would have started attacking residents of the town.

    “If not for intervention of the mobile police, it could have been hell for the residents of the area. They were many, they came in vehicles, they released all the suspects being detained in the cell and some of us immediately removed our uniforms and pretended as if we were also some of the suspects in the cell. That was how we survived, others managed to escape into the bush.”