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Tag: Kano

  • NAPS condemns attack on Kano Poly

    The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has expressed worries over the increasing rate of Boko Haram attacks in the country.

    The students’ group condemned the sect’s attack on Kano State Polytechnic on July 30.  It urged security operatives to adapt other means of fighting the group.

    In a statement in Abuja, the NAPS President, Comrade Ogbonnaya commiserated with the families of the deceased students, the school and the Kano State government.

    He said: “Only recently, we were greeted with the sad news of the death of scores of students of the Kano State Polytechnic who met their untimely death in the hands of persons now believed to be from the Boko Haram sect.

    “The leadership of NAPS strongly condemn the activities this blood tasty, reckless and wicked group called the Boko Haram.  We therefore call on the security outfit in the country to fasten their belt in the fight against insurgency.

    “To this end, we express our heartfelt condolence to the family of the deceased, the management of the institution and the government of Kano State on this great and irreplaceable loss of great Nigerians who represent the future of this country.”

    The student also praised President Goodluck Jonathan for raising funds for victims of Boko Haram.

    “We also wish to use this medium to commend the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his commendable initiative in coming up with a fund raising program to ameliorate the sufferings of the victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria. It is our belief that the resources realised will be used in the best interest of a peaceful and better Nigeria.

     

  • Stop this Direct Entry form racket in Kano

    We are fond of accusing our leaders of corruption, mismanagement and saying that they are the cause of all cankerworms killing this country. We always heap the blame on our leaders, shielding ourselves of any blame in what the country has become today. But the fact is that, in our tiny communities, we also share in whatever Nigeria has become today – either good or bad.

    The crux of this piece is to expose the exploitation and heartless racket in the sales of Direct Entry forms in Kano.

    Every Nigerian is aware that gaining admission into a university is one of the most depleted phase of the country’s education system and the most unnerving task of a student’s life. Secondary school leavers scramble to gain admission into universities with all they can. They struggle to sit for West African Examination Council or National Examination Council (NECO) or both. Afterwards, they sit for tertiary matriculation examination to further their studies.

    Over the years, these examinations have been fraught with malpractice and fraud, yet they are prerequisite to gaining admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Although, the recently-introduced post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is an effort to check fraud in matriculation examination, but the two combined are just unnecessary, stressful and costly. But like many Nigerian issues, we have adapted to it and continued to live with it.

    In Kano, over 60,000 pupils graduate from secondary schools yearly. A roughly 15 per cent of this figure gain admission into degree-awarding institutions but majority will opt for other tertiary programmes like National Diploma, Certificate of Education, etc. Many of these school leavers will still seek admission into university via Direct Entry (DE).

    Successful DE applicants are admitted into universities from second year upon completion of a two-year National Diploma or its equivalent. Others that performed averagely join as freshers. I know many graduates that gained admission via DE either as sophomore students or fresher.

    Until the last few days, I was never privileged to learn of the internal processes involved in gaining admission via DE. What follows is the sad truth surrounding Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Direct Entry Forms. I saw it as monopolistic, fraudulent and exploitative, which puts applicants’ lives in danger.

    I was with a friend a few days ago when his sister asked for N7,000 to obtain the BUK Direct Entry form. My friend told me the young lady was a three-point student and he was optimistic she would be admitted as sophomore student into BUK.

    The next day, facts began to emerge regarding the purchase of the DE form. For a start, the form can only be purchased in Zenith Bank branches in Kano. How and why BUK choose only one bank to be their outlet in getting the form? But Zenith Bank only has 11 branches in the whole of Kano; three of these branches are loosely located around the Sabon Gari business area, which is more than 10 kilometres away from the institution’s two campuses.

    Thus, the choice of a bank only outlet is unfair to applicants, because there are other banks within the campus. Imagine an applicant travelling to Wudil or Gwarzo local government areas in Kano where Zenith Bank branches are to purchase DE form and on getting there, he is told all forms have been sold out. This is the situation my friend’s younger sister faced.

    However, a staff of the bank told us we could get the form at Ciroma Cyber Café in Sabon Gari area. But why did a Zenith Bank staff direct us to a cyber café when the bank was chosen as the sole outlet to get the form?

    We took the pain to locate Ciroma Café, where we met over 300 people registering for one exam or the other. The DE form was supposed to cost N7,000, but we purchased it at the rate of N12,000 at the café. An applicant was seen pleading with the vendor to collect N10,000, but he replied: “You can go and sort yourself I will still be here tomorrow.”

    My friend counted N12,000 and extended to the vendor, but the happy guy looked at us and said its N14,000. Just like that! We actually purchased the form at double cost. We saw a young lady, crying because she could not afford to pay double for the form. There was someone, who rushed to look for balance only to return and learnt that additional N2,000 had been placed on the asking price.

    This is Kano and not Lagos or Abuja, where people want to make money faster.

    It is obvious that Ciroma Cyber Café is either in collaboration with the Zenith Bank or some dishonest members of staff of the university to rip off applicants. Or what could have given the café owner an effrontery to hike price of the DE form at will if he is not supported by the monopoly or the issuing institution?

    This is nothing but a legalised exploitation of the poor admission seekers. And this may have been the situation in others universities that accept DE. Applicants, who could not afford to buy at Ciroma café’s price, might have been deprived of the right to education. The might be thrown into a state of mental depression.

    I am sure the Kano State government, which has invested hugely in education, is not aware of this exploitation of indigent admission seekers. I hope the Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso would read this and take necessary step to stop this exploitation.

    Authorities must ensure that only qualified applicants purchase the DE forms. It is my hope that stakeholders will take diligent action to ensure DE candidates gain admission through a fair process.

     

    Salihu, a former student, writes from Kano

     

  • BUK’s VC decries poor funding

    BUK’s VC decries poor funding

    Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed has said poor funding, over-crowding and decayed facilities are the most disturbing issues in the public university system.

    Prof Rasheed spoke at the weekend at the foundation-laying ceremony of the senate building complex of the Jigawa State University in Kafin Hausa.

    He said the over-crowding is as a result of shortage of facilities and poor funding.

    Professor Rasheed, who chaired the occasion, said of 129 universities in Nigeria, 39 were owned by states and 50 by private individuals.

    This, he said, “is inadequate owing to over-crowding in the public universities”.

    The vice chancellor said the establishment of more private or public universities is desirable to discourage over-crowding in the public university system.

    He said the country wastes so much resource on trivial issues and spends little on the education sector.

    “It pays to invest on education, as it is the tested tool for economic development. Jigawa has taken a step in its future”.

    Education Commissioner Prof. Haruna Wakili said the university would take off with three faculties, nine departments and 15 programmes.

  • The pains of Kano

    The pains of Kano



    The time seems right for all and sundry to realize that the flow of information from one end to another in Nigeria and even the world at large is not in any way balanced. So too, it is a well known fact that bad news sell more, but the truth of the whole thing is that every state in Nigeria has her own portion of challenges to face; from armed robbery to hectic traffic, ritual killing, intricate lifestyles, kidnapping and various forms of gross immorality which are evenly distributed across. Painfully, we do not seem to see all of these but one, the most discussed on TV shows and the most published insurgency. Therefore, Chimamanda Adechie was definitely not wrong when she said that paying attention to one side of a story denies you the real picture of the whole story.

    Yet, we seem not to consider that fact of every state having her problems to contend with but if you say there is no challenge within your state, it simply means you are yet to identify some. Who would argue that five abducted by Boko Haram is worst compared to five who died in an auto crash on Benin — Ore expressway. The same as five taken into hostage in Niger-Delta and scores who died in a collapse building in Lagos or ten killed for rituals in Ogun or those who died in a fire outbreak in Oyo state. Human lives and state of emotional being are involved here. Then it makes you want to ask why the kettle would want to call pot black.

    Using Kano state for example, the state did face incessant attacks orchestrated by unscrupulous lazy elements who failed in their efforts to imperil her socio-economic. Yet, because the ancient city of many gates was attacked does not mean that the city exists no more or that human existence is now history. It may interest you to know that Kano state remains the Centre of Commerce that it has always been. The tons of watermelon, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, sugarcane for large-scale sugar production all of which come from Kano are still being produced and transported to other states in good qualities and quantities. You may be pleased to know that commerce in the state is struggling to remain on its feet because while some people are backing out some are venturing in.

    Perhaps, with the entry of the South African retailer, Shoprite, into Kano, it could not have been otherwise. Shoprite in Kano is having the first outlet in northern Nigeria, as part of an aggressive expansion drive, not heeding to widespread security challenges about the region. Interestingly, about $20 million (that is about N3.2billion) sunk into that project which now poses as Nigeria’s biggest. It is located in the new $110 million (about N17.6 billion) Ado Bayero Mall that took approximately three years to construct. Would any investor risk such a huge amount of money if the light at the end of the tunnel were not convincing enough? Therefore, I think it is everybody deciding what challenges to face according to where you choose to reside. This is because life its self is all about challenges, it only depends on the kind of challenge you want to face.

    Speaking with Kano State Sales Manager, Floor Mills Nigeria Limited, Abdul-Lateef Yusuf, he believes that the effect of insurgency has affected the inflow of people into Kano. “Population has a great impact on the commercial activities of Kano, being that the state is known for trading of all sorts of commodities.”

    Yusuf believes in the peace of Kano state and business strength. “If not for insurgency Kano is relatively better than South-South or South-West in terms of peace except in areas outside the state,” Yusuf recounted while speaking from the business angle. From his response, it was obvious that he expects things to get back to normal very soon and people feel more secured to live and do business in any part of Nigeria.

    Also speaking, Wole Ogunnaike, a Clergyman in Sabon Gari area of Kano State, gives an account from 1990 how he witnessed series of riots in the state including the Reinhard Bonnke’s riot of 1991.

    He agreed that Kano has suffered from incessant attacks but was of the opinion that the state has always been able to recover from it all in a jiffy. Ogunnaike opined that life in Kano is not worst than it is elsewhere in Nigeria. His words, “The question people ask me each time I travelled down the South-West is, ‘How are you guys coping in Kano?’ and I also ask them, ‘How are you coping too?’ Then they say, ‘with what’ and I say, ‘with armed robbery, ritual killing, day-by-day stress from work and other road users? How are you coping with traffic in Lagos? How are you coping with immorality and all others?”

    Recently some folks who relocated into Abuja from Kano are now confused as to where is actually safe. I guess Lagos or Port Harcourt would be their next choice of safe haven. However beautiful these places may seem, the kind of life lived in these said places is what a United Kingdom based Foundation, Walk Free Foundation, described in its 2013 Global Slavery Index as Modern day Slavery. A lifestyle where people hardly have time to attend to personal, marital and/or family issues due to the amount of hours spent on the road all on official duties. Painfully, Nigeria was mentioned among the Nations with highest indices alongside China, Pakistan, Mauritania, India, etc. I guess it is ok that Nigerians react to insurgency (which is almost normal in some other countries) in this manner because it is completely strange to both our cultural values and religious beliefs. Suicide killing is not a part of us and should be shunned completely.

    One thing that might interest you about the ancient city of many gates is the fact that Rabi’u Musa Kwankwanso, the Executive Governor of the state is currently equipping tertiary institutions within the state with up-to-date facilities in addition to granting indigenes free education up to university level while non-indigenes too are being encouraged to study in the state. To confirm the quality of education in Kano state, Micah Bamidele, a 300L Mechanical Engineering student of Kano State University of Technology, KSUT describes his academic experience in KSUT has quite eventful. Having witnessed several riots in Kano, he thinks insurgency just as riots are too often in Kano.

    Bamidele is although an indigene of Kogi state, but was born and bred in Kano State and now considers Kano a second home. He says, “Regardless of the tribalism and religious sentiments, educational standard in Kano is superb.” Bamidele has spent some time at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in an effort to secure academic admission but he prefers to study at Kano State University of Technology. He further advised youths from all across Nigeria to consider studying in Kano.

    Impressively, the Red Cap governor has concerned himself also with training and retraining of Teachers at primary and secondary school levels. He is indeed a lover of education. There is however no denial that some people may have fled due to the incidents yet some other people are trooping in. I bet you that life in Kano is as normal as it could be everywhere else. I cannot wait to see Kano come to glory again.

  • Kano designates hospitals to handle cases

    Kano designates hospitals to handle cases

    The Kano State government has designated  some of its  hospitals for the handling of  possible Ebola cases in the state.

    The hospitals have accordingly been equipped with protective wear and vehicles for the purpose,according to Governor  Rabi’u  Kwankwaso.

    The  governor,at a  press conference in Kano, said government   is working with the federal government at airports and land borders to prevent the virus from spreading to the state.

    But he said there has been no report of Ebola in the state.

    He told the people of the state   to ensure personal hygiene and take care of their environment.

  • Teen female suicide bombers keep Kano residents in perpetual fear

    Teen female suicide bombers keep Kano residents in perpetual fear

    The dream of every student of a tertiary institution is to see his or her name on the notice board as one of those confirmed by the authorities of the affected school to have scaled all the hurdles and eligible to be awarded a certificate. That, of course, was the thought that dominated the mind of Nurudeen Deneji (43) after he had completed his assignments for Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration at Kano State Polytechnic.

    Indeed, Nurudeen’s name appeared on the list and he was in high spirit penultimate Wednesday as new graduates of the polytechnic gathered to check their names on the call-up list for the mandatory one-year national service otherwise called the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC). It turned out that fate would later that day play a cruel one on Nurudeen.

    A female teen suicide bomber sneaked into the sizeable crowd of fresh graduates and detonated a bomb that killed no fewer than three of them and injured seven others, according to police figures. Nurudeen was one of the deceased victims. The 43-year-old indigene of Kano city left behind a young wife and five children. His first child, Najib, had just clocked seven years.

    Describing Nurudeen as peace-loving, amiable, easy-going and generous, his elder brother, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado Deneji, a senior reporter with Radio Kano, said: “I feel very sad about his death. But what I believe is that life is a matter of destiny. We come into the world through the will of Allah, and through His will we go. I believe that Nurudeen’s death was predestined.

    “We have lost a great brother who was determined to excel in life, but God knows the best. God giveth and God taketh. His dream was to live a peaceful, comfortable and godly life with his family, but now, death has snatched him away through a very tragic means.

    “He left behind a wife and five children. Only God can take care of those he has left behind.”

    Speaking to newsmen at the scene of the incident, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Aderenle Shinaba, was soaked with emotion as he condemned the act.

    Shinaba said: ”We are in very difficult times; a situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state. The one that has just happened at the administrative block of Kano State Polytechnic on Bayero University Kano Road is frightening.

    “The incident occurred at about 3:30 pm. The situation calls for vigilance on the part of every one of us because we have tried as much as possible to deploy police officers in every strategic location.

    ”So, in these critical times, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody. Even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as the vigilance of every one of us. A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such a person have with graduates who had assembled to check their postings for the Batch A of the NYSC?

    “It is disheartening to note that when you see somebody around, who is looking like a primary or secondary school student, disguise in the customary hijab, you begin to fret.

    “We have been telling people about female teenage suicide bombers; a situation that calls for law enforcement agencies to be on the alert.

    “We must now set sentiments and religion aside and watch out always for hijab-wearing female suicide bombers. We must face the reality of tackling the danger headlong so as to avoid future occurrences.”

    The Kano State Polytechnic incident was not the first time that female suicide bombers would terrorise the ancient city. On Monday, July 28, a female suicide bomber killed three persons at the NNPC Mega Station at Hotoro quarters. The suicide bomber joined the kerosene queue at the station and detonated the bomb minutes later.

    The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Adenerele Tasheed Shinaba, confirmed the blast, saying that three persons were killed while 10 others were injured. On the same day, another female suicide bomber hit Zoo Road, near Kano International Trade Fair complex. Although the 19-year-old female bomber killed herself in the process, six innocent Nigerians sustained various degrees of injuries.

    According to eyewitness account, the female suicide bomber dressed in hijab got to the gate of the trade fair complex, but as she tried to gain entry, security men at the gate insisted that she must be frisked. In the process, she detonated the bomb and blew herself. Two Police men were among those who got injured in the incident.

    Before the Monday tragedy, Sunday, July 27, had left its own footprints in the sands of terrorism in Kano. In a suicide bombing attack, which occurred in Kofar Nasarawa area of the city, a female bomber, in an attempt to lure some security men who were stationed by the North West gate with Sallah food, ended up blowing herself up.

    It was gathered that the female suicide bomber arrived the scene at about 12:30 pm and told the security operatives that she had brought Sallah food for them. The security men, however, suspected a foul play on account of the female bomber’s apparent desperation.

    The securitymen, it was further gathered, took to their heels when they noticed that the female bomber was fast advancing towards them as they threatened to gun her down. However, luck ran out on her as the bomb she concealed in her hijab exploded and consumed her.

    That same Sunday, St. Charles Catholic Church, located on Zungeru Road, Normansland in Sabon Gari area of Kano, witnessed a heavy blast that claimed the lives of seven worshippers and left 16 persons injured. Three suspects, including a cripple, were arrested.

    At about 1:29 pm, according to an eyewitness account, the suspected terrorists had laid siege at a primary school adjacent to St Charles Catholic Church on Zungeru Road, from where they hauled the explosives at the unsuspecting worshippers. It was further gathered that the explosives were thrown through the windows of the school on the innocent worshippers who had just concluded their Sunday service and were departing the premises to their respective homes.

    According to sources, the deceased victims included a man identified as Ugochukwu Okoli (32), his wife and maid, who had gone to the church for thanksgiving.

    Briefing reporters at the scene of the bomb attack, Shinaba said the suspects had gone to a church on Zungeru Road where they hid themselves in a primary school close to the church and threw explosives on the unsuspecting worshippers, leaving no fewer than five people dead and eight injured, while three suspects were arrested.

    The Catholic Bishop of Kano, Bishop John Namanza, condemned the attack on his church members, describing it as uncalled for. Although he commended the security operatives for their response, he lamented that it was belated despite the early information passed to them that the church was a target.

    He therefore called on security agents and the state government to beef up security around the vicinity.

  • Seized drug in Kano

    Seized drug in Kano

    Seized drugs, 19.5kg cocaine in Kano
    Seized drugs, 19.5kg cocaine in Kano
  • Women suicide bombers on the rampage in Kano

    Women suicide bombers on the rampage in Kano

    When the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, its membership comprised only men. The activities of the dissidents have taken a different dimension – they have introduced young women bombers into their fold. The suicide bombers are now on the prowl, especially in Kano.

    The feminine gender is known for its kindness and humane nature. These days, the traits have been undermined as many have learnt the art of killing and destruction.

    Recently, their target was the Kano State Polytechnic where some students were killed and others injured. One of the victims was 43-year-old Nurudeen Deneji, who had completed his course of study and was waiting to be awarded the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration by the Kano State Polytechnic.

    Indeed, Nurudeen was among those to be honoured. He was in high spirits on that fateful Wednesday, July 30, when graduates of Kano Polytechnic had gathered to check their names on the call-up list.

    But fate played a cruel trick on Nurudeen and others who did not survive the bomb-blast masterminded by a female teen-suicide-bomber at 3:30 p.m. She sneaked into the crowd and detonated an Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that killed no fewer than three persons and injured seven, according to police authorities.

    The 43-year-old Nurudeen from Kano City left behind a young wife and five children. His first child, Najib, is just seven years old.

    Speaking to our correspondent, his elder brother, Alhaji Ibrahim Ado Deneji, a Senior Reporter with Radio Kano described his late brother as peace-loving, amiable, easy-going and generous.

    Alhaji Deneji said: “I feel very sad, even though my belief is that life has its own destiny from God. We come to this world through the will of Allah and through the same means, we go.  I believe this is part of pre-destination. We have lost a very great brother who was determined to excel in life. But God knows the best. He gives and He takes.

    “His dream was to live a peaceful, comfortable and Godly life with his family; but death has snatched him away through a very tragic means. He left behind a wife and five children; and only God can take care of those he has left behind.”

    Speaking to reporters at the scene of the incident, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Aderenle Shinaba, condemned the act, saying: “We are in very difficult times. A situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state is what we are witnessing. This one that happened here at the Administrative Block of Kano State Polytechnic on Bayero University Kano Road is frightening.

    “This situation calls for vigilance on the part of every one of us because we have tried as much as possible for the deployment of police officers in every strategic location.

    ‘’ So, at this critical time, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody. Even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as vigilance of everyone of us. A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such person has where graduates assembled to check their results of the Batch A NYSC deployment? It is disheartening to see somebody, looking like a primary or secondary school student, ladened with explosives and disguised  in hijab in our midst without anybody taking note.

    “We have been telling people about female teenage suicide bombers, which calls for the law enforcement agencies to be on the alert. Look for hijab-wearing female suicide bombers. Sentiments and religion should not be the issue. We should face the reality of tackling it head-on so as to avoid future occurrences,’’ he warned.

    The Kano Polytechnic incident was not the first time female suicide bombers terrorised the ancient city during the Sallah festivities. On Monday, July 28, a female suicide bomber killed three persons at NNPC Mega Station at Hotoro Quarters.

    The suicide bomber joined the kerosene queue at the station and detonated the bomb minutes later. The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Adenerele Tasheed Shinaba confirmed the blast, adding that three persons were killed and 10 others injured.

    On the same day, another female suicide-bomber hit Zoo Road, near Kano International Trade Fair. Though the 19-year old female bomber killed herself in the process, six innocent Nigerians sustained various degrees of injuries. According to an eyewitness account, the female suicide bomber dressed in a Hijab got to the gate of the trade fair, but just as she tried to gain entrance, security men at the gate insisted she must be frisked; and, in the process, she detonated the bomb and blew herself up. Two policemen were among those who injured in that incident.

    Before the Monday incident, there was another bomb blast on Sunday, July 27 in Kano.  In another suicide attack at Kofar Nasarawa area of the city, a female bomber, in an attempt to lure some security men who were stationed at the North West Gate with Sallah food, ended up blowing up herself.

    Also, it was gathered that the female bomber, who arrived at the scene under the newly constructed flyover at 12:30 p.m. made an attempt to deceive the security operatives that she brought Sallah food for them. But the security men, who were alert, suspected foul play, because of the female bomber’s desperation.

    The security operatives, it was further gathered, took to their heels when they noticed that the female bomber was fast advancing towards them, even as they threatened to gun her down.

    However, luck ran out on the bomber who concealed the explosives under her hijab. The bomb suddenly exploded and consumed her.

    On the same Sunday, St. Charles Catholic Church on Zungeru Road, Normansland in Sabon Gari area of Kano witnessed a blast that claimed the lives of seven worshippers and left 16 injured, while three suspects, including a cripple were arrested.

    The suspected terrorists, at 1:29 p.m., according to eyewitness account, laid siege to a primary school, adjacent to the church, from where they threw the explosives on the innocent worshippers through the window of the school.

    Briefing reporters at the scene of the attack, Shinaba said the suspects had gone to a church on Zungeru Road where they hid themselves at a primary school close to the church and threw explosives on the unsuspecting worshippers. The incident left no fewer than five people dead, eight injured, while three suspects were arrested.

    In a chat with our correspondent, The Catholic Bishop of Kano, Bishop John Namanza, said the community had protected themselves beyond imagination in the vicinity.

    Condemning the attack on his church members, Bishop Namanza described them as uncalled for. Although he commended the security operatives for their response, he lamented that it was belated, despite the early information passed on to them that the church was a target. He, therefore, called on security agents and the state government to beef up security around the vicinity. 

    The scenario in the ancient city of Kano is that residents are now scared of women dressed in hijab. Such incident was reported in Sabon Gari area of the metropolis which is mostly inhabited by non-indigenous.

    Some traders noticed a woman who dressed in hijab. She stood at the same spot for over 20 minutes. One of the brave traders walked to her and told her to keep moving, stressing that they are not comfortable with her presence; a situation that informed the decision of the women to leave the scene to avoid embarrassment.

    As she relocated to the ever-busy France Road, close to Galadima Junction, where vendors sell newspapers, she started flagging down some tricycle operators for an unknown destination. They zoomed off when they saw  that she was clad in hijab. The woman was embarrassed and sneaked away without drawing attention to herself.

  • 13 killed in attack on Yobe mosques as three die in Kano bombing

    13 killed in attack on Yobe mosques as three die in Kano bombing

    Terrorists have unleashed an army of female suicide bombers in some part of the country.

    A female suicide bomber believed to be about 14 years old detonated explosives yesterday at the Kano State Polytechnic in the city that has been under attack by female bombers in the past one week, killing three people.

    Seven people were injured when the bomb she concealed in her hijab exploded.

    Thirteen people died in attacks on mosques in Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, on Tuesday evening.

    It was gathered that the teenage suicide bomber sneaked  into the midst of graduands, who were checking the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) deployment list pasted on the wall at the bus stop close to the school’s gate.

    The incident happened at about 3:30 pm when the batch A NYSC members converged and were checking the list for their postings.

    An eyewitness account said 12 persons were killed and 15 injured, but Kano State Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba said three people died; seven were injured.

    ‘’ We are in very difficult times, a situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state. This one that happened here at the Administrative Block of Kano State Polytechnic is frightening.

    ‘’ The incident, which occurred at about 3:30 pm, calls for vigilance on the part of every one of us because we have tried as much as possible for the deployment of police officers in every strategic location.

    ‘’ So, at these critical times, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody. Even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as vigilance of everyone of us.

    ‘’A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such person have  where graduates assembled to check the placement of the Batch A NYSC deployment.?

    ‘’It is disheartening  to note that when you see somebody around, who is looking like a primary or secondary school pupil to disguise with her hijab in our midst without anybody taking note. We have been telling people about the issue of female teenage suicide bombers, which calls for the attention of the law enforcement agencies to be on the alert.

    ‘’Look, for hijab wearing female suicide bombers , sentiments and religion should not be the issue but we should face the reality of tackling it headlong so as to avoid future occurrence.’’

    Two suicide bombers on Tuesday launched coordinated attacks on two mosques in Potiskum.

    The attacks were targeted at worshippers  during the evening prayer around 7:30pm local time.

    They attacked the Alkali Kalli mosque, a few metres away from the  Emir of Fika’s palace and the Sakafa mosque, located  at the busy Potiskum central market.

    Despite security warnings that people should stay away from blast scenes, residents were milling around the two mosques yesterday to witness the destruction.

    Residents stormed the Potiskum General Hospital to identify the dead and the injured.

    The authorities declined to give the death toll, but hospital sources said 13 bodies were brought in from the separate attacks; 35 others affected by the explosions are receiving treatment at the Potiskum hospital.

    The source said victims with high degree of fracture would be referred to other hospitals.

    An official with   Isma Medical Initiatives, who was involved in the rescue operation, also said 13 people died and 35 were injured.

    “We were involved in the rescue operation from the beginning up to this time and I can confirm to you that 13 people were killed in the separate attacks while 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Many of those on admission will be referred to Either Nguru or neighbouring Azare for treatment,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.

    The  Emir of Fika, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibn Mohammadu Idris, who visited the scene, condemned the attacks, which he described as “callous and inhuman”. He called on residents to be “vigilant at all times in the fight against terrorism”.

    The royal father promised to take responsibility for  the  medical bills of those on admission at the Potiskum hospital.

    In a message from the lesser hajj, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, through his Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs, Abdulfatahi Bego, express deep shock at the attacks.

    The message reads: “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is currently performing the Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, is deeply shocked and outraged by the loss of lives and suffering caused by the attacks in Katarko and Potiskum in which about 17 people were killed and many more injured.

    “Governor Gaidam strongly condemns the attacks which are senseless, heinous and barbaric and totally unjustifiable.

    “The Governor’s thoughts and those of his administration are with the families of the victims at this time of great loss.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has prayed Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant eternal repose to those killed and quick recovery to those who sustained various degrees of injury”

    He directed for free medical treatment of all victims affect in the blast, calling on the people to be ever more vigilante with the change of mode of attacks by the insurgents.

    “The Governor has also directed that free medical treatment be provided for all the injured until they are discharged from hospital.

    “Given the changing mode of attack by criminals and insurgents, the Governor has called on people across the state to remain ever more vigilant to happenings around their communities and to promptly report any suspicious persons or objects to security agents.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has called for increased cooperation with security agents and more intensive prayers for Almighty Allah (SWT) to help restore peace in our state and the nation generally.

    “The Governor has also called on security agencies in the state to continue to do more to nip criminal and insurgent activities in the bud and reiterated his call on the federal government to provide advanced bomb detection and other stealth security equipment to help the security agents on the ground more effectively prevent attacks,” the statement read.

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday deplored the continuing terrorist assault on Kano and the heinous bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.

    In a statement, presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said Dr. Jonathan “similarly deplores the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State yesterday.

    “President Jonathan condemns the repeated targeting of worshippers, and   innocent students who are the nation’s future by depraved terrorists.

    “He believes that the callous attacks on soft targets fully affirm that the terrorists’ are nothing but bloodthirsty adherents of a warped and retrogressive ideology.

    “No amount of intimidation and violence would stampede the government into abandoning its goal of giving education a new lease of life and opening up access to all young Nigerians who wish to improve themselves.

    “President Jonathan has therefore directed the Armed Forces, Police and other national security agencies to further enhance security around educational facilities in states prone to terrorist attacks.”

  • Female suicide bomber blows up self, graduates

    A female suicide bomber, aged 14, on Wednesday, died alongside two others at the Kano State Polytechnic when the bomb she hide in her hijab went off.

    Seven others were injured in the incident.

    The Nation gathered that the teenage suicide bomber sneaked into the midst of the graduating students of the institution, who were checking the NYSC deployment lists placed outside the school premises before the bomb exploded.

    Eyewitnesses said the incident happened at about 3:30pm when the graduating students had converged in large number at the school bus stop to check their postings.

    However, eyewitness said 12 persons were killed, while 15 others were injured in the incident.

    The Kano State Police Commissioner, Aderenle Shinaba, said three persons died in the blast.

    He said, ” We are in very difficult times, a situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state. This one that happened here at the administrative block of Kano State Polytechnic on Bayero University, Road is frightening.

    ” The incident occurred at about 3:30p and this situation calls for vigilance on the part of everyone of us because we have tried as much as possible to deploy police officers in every strategic areas in the state.

    ” So at this critical times, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody, even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as vigilance of everyone of us.

    ”A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such person has where graduates assembled to check their NYSC deployment.”