The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano

  • Buhari, Shettima, Gamduje, Tambuwal meet before US trip

    Buhari, Shettima, Gamduje, Tambuwal meet before US trip

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday met behind closed doors with the governors of Borno (Kashim Shettima), Kano (Abdullahi Ganduje) and Sokoto states (Aminu Tambuwal) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, before departing for New York, USA.

    Malam Imam Imam, the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State governor on Media, confirmed the meeting of the governors with the President on his Facebook page, on Sunday.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity also confirmed the departure of President Buhari to New York, through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

    Adesina posted on his Facebook page: “President Buhari departs Abuja to New York for 72nd Session of the United Nation General Assembly on Sept. 17, 2017.’’

    It was gathered that the President might have been briefed by the governors on some national issues including the security situations in their respective states.

    Shettima, who is also the chairman of the Northern State governors’ forum, had in a statement issued in Maiduguri, lauded the residents of the region for keeping the peace in the face of the recent clashes between members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and soldiers in some parts of the South East region.

    While IPOB has been proscribed by the south east governors, it was declared as a terrorist group by the military.

    Sokoto metropolis, on Saturday, however witnessed minor social unrest as some armed youths in their hundreds, set ablaze a building along Bello Way where Igbo traders have shops in what appeared to be a response to reported attacks on some northern traders in some parts of the South East region.

    But the 19 Northern state governors, had through a statement issued by its chairman, Kashim Shettima, called on the army to remain on the alert in the region with a view to tackling any possible break down of law and order in the states.

    President Buhari, after the meeting with governors, left Abuja for New York to join other world leaders at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72), would during the visit, participate in the General Debate where he was expected to deliver the country’s National Statement.

    The theme for this year’s Debate is: “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.”

    Buhari would also join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

    The Nigerian leader would also hold a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe as well as a lunch meeting with President Donald Trump of the United States of America, along with other world leaders.

    The president, who was accompanied by the governors of Zamfara, Ebonyi and Ondo States as well as key cabinet ministers, would transit through London on his way back to the country.

  • Court remands man for raping girl

    Court remands man for raping girl

    Two men, Nura Abubakar, 20, and Mustapha Tasiu, 18, were on Thursday remanded by a Kano Magistrates’ Court for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl.

    The defendants, who reside in Rurum Village in the Rano Local Government Area of Kano State, were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and rape.

    The Chief Magistrate, Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, ordered the remand of the defendants in prison until Oct. 12.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Asp. Anthony Edward, told the court that one Abdulaziz Bala of Rurum Village reported the matter on Sept. 3 at the Rano Police Division.

    He told the court that on Aug. 31 at about 12:05 p.m., the defendants criminally conspired to deceive and then lured the complainant’s 11-year-old daughter into an uncompleted building and raped her.

    The prosecutor alleged that the defendants forcefully had unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl one after the other.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The offences contravened Sections 97 and 283 of the Penal Code.

  • Ganduje calls on FG to probe S/East incidence

    Ganduje calls on FG to probe S/East incidence

    Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday in Kano called on the Federal Government to urgently investigate the unfortunate incident, which occurred in the South Eastern part of the country.

    Ganduje, while receiving the leadership of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) at Government House, led by Chairman of the Group, Nasdura Sharif Ashir, urged the Federal Government to also punish those, who are found wanting disturbing event.

    Similarly, Governor Ganduje expressed satisfaction that the situation has been brought under control by security agents in the troubled areas in the South East.

    Also, he maintained that if such punishment were not meted to the perpetrators, it would continue to happen, which will not be good for the country.

    According to him, I believe that two wrongs cannot make a right, so, all we need is peaceful coexistence that will lead to rapid development of the country.

    He also hailed the efforts of the Group in their efforts to douse the tension that have already been generated.

    ”I consider that the incident is very unfortunate and I commend your efforts to douse down tension, which I describe as patriotic.

    ”I am not surprised of these efforts because you have been and still demonstrating that your Group believe in one Nigeria and also your disposition in the belief of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability in stabilizing the nation.

    Earlier, leader of the Group, said their mission to the Government House is to sensitize Northerners against being provoked to reprisals, following the unfortunate Port Harcourt incident.

  • Workers get rice as strike dulls activities at BUK, UNILAG

    Non-academic activities at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Bayero University, Kano (BUK) have been suspended as all the non-academic members of staff of the universities obeyed the call by their national unions to embark on a nationwide industrial action which started Monday.

    Since then, members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association for Academic Technology (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of both institutions, under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), have only held meetings or forced their colleagues out of offices in a bid to enforce the strike.

    When The Nation visited BUK campus on Monday, our reporter saw SSANU leaders distributing bags of Rice and gallons of vegetable oil to members as palliative measures against the strike.

    SSANU Chairman, Comrade Haruna Aliyu said the strike was in the best interest of the public, workers and the education system and should not be misconstrued for personal and selfish interest.

    “We have no option than to join our counterparts to press home our demands from the federal government who have deliberately refused to meet our 10-point demands even after we embarked on warning strike,” Haruna said.

    As at the time of filing this report, the university had been deserted by students, lecturers, and non-academic staff while shops shut their businesses on campus.

    At UNILAG, the Senate building, centre of the institution’s administration, was empty on Tuesday.

    Security personnel stationed at the entrance of the building as well as the NASU, SSANU and NAAT members were on ground to make sure that no activity went on in the building.

    Olugbenga Adenaya, Vice Chairman of SSANU, UNILAG branch, said they were there to monitor the strike to make sure that members complied.

    He said the Federal Government had been paying N333.33k for allowance but the agreement was N15,000 for junior workers and N30,000 for senior workers, which had not been effected.

    Comrade Ganiyu Adelagun Adeshina, NASU Chairman, said that the government was not bothered about the welfare of its workers.

    Comrade Ajibade Kehinde NASU Chairman, UNILAG said; “we want the Federal Government to face its responsibilities and face the affected universities.”

    He also said that the Federal Government sent a memo to the staff school teachers’ name to be removed from the payroll and that the Federal Government was taken to court and was asked to return the list of the staff school teachers back to its payroll but they are yet to comply.

    Comrade Suleiman Lawal, Chairman of National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), said representatives of the committee of vice-chancellor, budget office, office of the Secretary of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Salary and Wages Commission, the Federal Ministry of Education and NUC were present during the agreement.

     

  • Kano targets top three at NYG

    Kano targets top three at NYG

    The Kano State Director of Sports, Malam Bashiru Ahmed, has said that the aim of the state is to surpass it’s previous performance at the Youth Games, holding in Ilorin.

    Ahmed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin, that the state is participating in more individual events.

    “This year’s National Youth Games, Kano is featuring in 15 events and we hope to get medals in 12 events.

    “Last year, we had 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze and I’m sure we’ll improve this year.

    “The state’s target is between 1st to 3rd position.

    “We are participating in more individual sports like swimming, Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, Wrestling and I’m optimistic victory is ours” Ahmed said.

    He revealed that Eminike Emeka won a silver for the state in the Gymnastics event.

    “In the Vaulting Exercise of the boy’s gymnastics event, Eminike Emeka brought the state a silver and more is coming.” Ahmed added.

  • Umar applauds Pillars as they retain Kwese League title

    Umar applauds Pillars as they retain Kwese League title

    Kano Pillars at the weekend successful defended their Nigerian basketball premier league title, when they defeated Gombe Bulls in the final 8 of the Kwese Premier League concluded at the Kofar Mata in Kano.
    Pillars defeated Bulls by 20 points 74-54 to confirm superiority in the Nigerian league. They took home the N20 million champions’ grand prize.
    The factional president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Tijjani Umar, was full of praises for the Nigerian champions, which he described as very consistent in the past years. “Pillars gave their best in the Kwese Premier League throughout the season, so retaining the league title was not a big surprise. We don’t have any doubt in our mind that Pillars would represent Nigeria well at the next edition of the FIBA Africa Club Championship, together with the runner’s up, Gombe Bulls.”
    For finishing second place, Gombe Bulls got N15 million, While Hoops and Read of Lagos that defeated Kwara Falcons 61-52 in the loser’s final took home N10 million.
    Kano Pillars’ Celestine Nwafor Peter, was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2017 Kwese Premier League. He was also voted the league’s Highest Scorer.
    Pillars’ Abubakar Usman Nda, was voted the Best Scorer, Gombe Bulls’ Timothy Kapon got the Best Offensive Player award, while Hoops and Read’s Mustapha Oyebanji was voted as the Best Shooter.
    The Kwese Premier League Best Five were David Godwin of Kwara Falcons, Dele Ademola of Pillars, Mustapha Oyebanji of Hoops and Read, Abubakar Usman Nda and Celestine Nwafor Peter.
    Some of the top sports personalities that presented prizes and individual awards to winners at the grand finale of the Final 8 include: Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, former chairman of the Nigeria Football Association and chairman Kano State Sports Commission, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, former President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Senator U.K Umar, former President of the NBBF, Alhaji Aliyu Bappa, Treasurer of the NOC, Alhaji Abba Yola, former Director, National Sports Commission and Prince Ado Bayero.
  • Auto crash claims 19 lives in Kano

    Auto crash claims 19 lives in Kano

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says 19 persons have died in a ghastly motor accident along Kano – Katsina Road.

    The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Sector Command in the state, Mr Kabir Ibrahim-Daura, disclosed this in Kano on Saturday.

    Kabir-Daura said that the incident occurred near Lambun Garban Bichi, on the outskirts of Bichi town, around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

    According to him, the incident happened when a Peugeot J5 bus and a Toyota C20 bus had a head-on collision when one of the drivers of the vehicles wanted to overtake the other vehicle at a sharp bend corner.

    He said the two vehicles bust into flames as a result of which 18 out of the 34 passengers in the vehicles were burnt to ashes.

    “There were 34 passengers on board the two vehicles, so 18 were burnt to ashes, while the other one died later in the hospital, “he said.

    Kabir-Daura said the remaining 15 persons who sustained various injuries were taken to Bichi General Hospital by the Corps’ personnel for treatment.

    He attributed the accident to wrong overtaking and speeding, and urged drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accident on the Highways.

  • 19 die in Kano accident

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says 19 persons have died in a ghastly motor accident along Kano – Katsina Road.

    The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC Sector Command in the state, Mr Kabir Ibrahim-Daura, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday.

    Kabir-Daura said that the incident occurred near Lambun Garban Bichi, on the outskirts of Bichi town, around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

    According to him, the incident happened when a Peugeot J5 bus and a Toyota C20 bus had a head-on collision when one of the drivers of the vehicles wanted to overtake the other vehicle at a sharp bend corner.

    He said the two vehicles bust into flames as a result of which 18 out of the 34 passengers in the vehicles were burnt to ashes.

    “There were 34 passengers on board the two vehicles, so 18 were burnt to ashes, while the other one died later in the hospital, “he said.

    Kabir-Daura said the remaining 15 persons who sustained various injuries were taken to Bichi General Hospital by the Corps’ personnel for treatment.

    He attributed the accident to wrong overtaking and speeding, and urged drivers to always obey traffic rules and regulations to avoid road accident on the Highways. (NAN)

  • Kano Clash: Kwankwasiyya are liars, says Kano Police

    Kano Clash: Kwankwasiyya are liars, says Kano Police

    Indications emerged on Friday that the police may soon parade the perpetrators of last Saturday’s breach of peace at the palace of Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11.
    The state Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Yusuf has inaugurated a powerful team of police detectives to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the fracas.
    The Nation recalls that last Saturday, during the traditional Hawan Daushe to mark the Eid-El-Kabir, at the Emir’s palace, the Kwankwassiyya faction of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in their thousands, converged at Hasiya Bayero Hospital, located opposite the Palace, with an alleged motive to disrupt the event, which was supposed to be graced by the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, a situation resulting in a bloody clash.
    Speaking to reporters at the Bompai Police headquarters on Friday, the Command’s spokesman, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said investigations into the fracas will soon be concluded, adding that police, “must bring the perpetrators to book.”
    According to him, “the Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Rabiu Yusuf inaugurated a powerful team of police detectives headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Ahmed Muhammad Azare to immediately embark on painstaking investigation and find out the immediate and remote causes of the clash that occurred on the 2nd September, 2017.”
    He said the Team’s terms of reference include to: identify the victims, attackers, their sponsors, masterminds, as well as any action or inaction taken so far against the police, adding that those found culpable would be prosecuted.
    Reacting to press briefing credited to Kwankwasiyya Support Group, held in Abuja, on September 7 accusing the police of complicity in the matter, Majia described their claims as, “mischievous, malicious, callous and a demonstration of shame,” adding that, “their actions portray them as pathological liars.”
    Giving a graphic account of the incident, Majia said: “the fracas occurred during ‘HAWAN DAUSHE’ at Emir’s Palace, Kano, on the second day of Eid-El-Kabir, an occasion organized by the Emirate Council, purely traditional and not political.
    “During the occasion, District Heads (Hakimai) pay homage to His Royal Highness, the Emir of Kano at ‘KOFAR KUDU.’ On that fateful day, the Kwankwasiyya faction of APC converged at Hasiya Bayero Hospital in thousands, with their supporters drawn from Sokoto, Kogi, and other neighbouring states and various Local Government Areas of Kano state with the ulterior motive to disrupt the occasion, which was not a political gathering.
    “They were chanting ‘Bamayi! Bamayi!! Bamayi!!!, meaning, ‘we are not in support, we are not in support, we are not in support.
    “This happened when the factional group (Kwankwasiyya), sighted the convoy of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR, approaching the venue of the occasion and suddenly started pelting the convoy.
    “However, with the deliberate cause of chaos, a clash ensued between the two APC factions. With quick intervention of the police, normalcy was restored. Some notable Kwankwasiyya’s ardent supporters were rescued from the ugly incident including former Commissioner in the past administration, Dr. Yunusa Adamu Dangwani, former SSG, Dr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, former Director Special Services, Alhaji Danyaro Yakasai, and escorted by the police to their respective residences safely.
    “However, it is quite disheartening that these same people that caused the pandemonium turned a leaf of shame against the police that saved their lives from being lynched. On no occasion that the Kwankwasiyya faction of APC sought for audience with the Commissioner of Police and their request was turned down, such assertion was nothing but an act of mischief.
    “The Kano Police Command is calling on all the good citizens of the state to remain calm, and equally assuring them that no amount of propaganda, intimidation, misrepresentation and total evasion of facts will deter the police Command from carrying out its constitutional duties of maintaining law and order.
    “The Nigeria Police will not allow any group or organization under whatsoever guise to disrupt the relative peace the citizens of Kano state are currently enjoying. The police Command is hereby issuing a stern warning to all miscreants under whosoever guise, that it will not fold its hands and watch thugs hatching ugly situation that may lead to mayhem in the entire state.
    “The Command, therefore, calls on the good people of the state to collaborate with the Police to unmask these miscreants and perpetrators of last Saturday are incident as they will be dealt with in accordance to the extant laws.”

  • GLO TREATS KANO RESIDENTS TO HUMOUR FEST

    RESIDENTS of Nigeria’s most populous city, Kano, were recently treated to a dose of jokes and laughter by seven iconic comedians led by Bright Okpocha, popularly called Basketmouth and Bovi Ugboma.

    Courtesy of Glo Laffta Fest, the show held at the Meena Event Centre, Kano. Other comedians who performed at the show, which coincided with the annual Durbar festival, included Godwin Komone (Gordons), Iruvwe Okiemute (De Don), Francis Agoda (I Go Die), Patrick Onyeke (Mr. Patrick), and Saed Mohammad (Funky Mallam).

    The evening of endless fun was teed off by Mr. Patrick, the drama sketch kingpin, who thoroughly entertained the audience. Funky Mallam, one of the most prominent Nollywood personalities from northern Nigeria, picked the baton and entertained the audience with an admixture of Hausa and English jokes.

    The heavyweights, Gordons, I Go Dye, Bovi and Basketmouth, took the show to its zenith with waves of jokes. Gordons, in his own routine commended the residents of the city for upholding peace and unity in Kano, calling on the media to project the positive image of the city.

    Kannywood star, Sani Danja, Nollywood legend, Kanayo O. Kanayo and accomplished Nollywood comic, Victor Osuagwu complemented the comedians with cameo appearances which excited the overfilled hall whilst Nollywood actresses, Mercy Johnson-Okojie and Uche Jombo anchored the event and DJ XGee entertained with pulsating music from the wheel of steel.

    Attendees who arrived early were appreciated with goody bags while those who correctly answered quiz about Glo products and services and those who excelled in dance competitions were also rewarded with corporate gifts.

    The female category of the dance competitions was jointly won by Maryam Muhammad and Ochuwa Oshio while the male category was jointly won by Gideon Emmanuel and Timilehin Oyedemi.