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Tag: Katsina State

  • Masari to bandits in Katsina: enough is enough

    KATSINA State Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Thursday engaged representatives of bandits terrorizing the state’s eight frontline local government areas to find a permanent solution to the incessant attacks and kidnappings that has gripped the state for some time now.

    The meeting, which was held at the state secretariat, was also attended by heads of security agencies; the deputy governor, Alhaji Manir Yakubu; traditional rulers and districts heads, led by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman.

    Others include Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, Transition Committee Chairmen of the affected frontline local government areas, representatives of Miyyeti Allah and the Fulani herdsmen

    The Nation gathered the attendance of the representatives of the bandits was made possible by the amnesty declared for them by the Northwest governors at a recent meeting.

    Masari, who spoke in Hausa, warned that the insecurity rocking the affected local government areas was becoming embarrassing to both the state government and President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also an indigene, warning: “Enough is enough”.

    He restated the commitment of his government to deploy whatever means in dealing decisively and ruthlessly with banditry and kidnapping.

    Read Also: Police rescue 10 women abducted in Katsina

    The meeting, according to the governor, is expected to be of great impact towards restoring peace to the affected local councils and the entire 34 local government areas.

    He added that the security of lives and properties of the Katsina residents lies in the hands of government, security personnel and everyone.

    He said: “We are ready to dialogue with the bandits and are ready to go anywhere they invited us, because we are not afraid to meet anybody to end this problem.

    “As a leader, I must find the solution to the problem so that if today I died, I know how to defend myself before God. I will not allow this to continue; enough is enough’’

    “I have directed the security operatives to take all necessary measures to change the narrative on insecurity in the state, by any means necessary.’’

    The Emir of Katsina observed that the fight against banditry and kidnapping, though challenging, required collective efforts.

    He appealed to the house Assembly to ensure speedy passage of the signed mandatory death sentences for cattle-rustling and kidnapping bill into law.

     

  • Insecurity: Police launch aerial battle

    The security situation in the country was again on the front burner on Thursday as the Police commenced deployment of surveillance helicopters in the Southwest and the Northwest.

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari, whose state has been under relentless attacks by bandits, on Thursday opened dialogue with them.

    In Abuja, four people were arrested for possession of explosives.

    Police spokesman Frank Mba, in a statement, said Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu ordered the deployment of aerial surveillance helicopters in major cities in the South-West and North-West as part of efforts by the police to effectively curtail crimes in the country.

    He said the Police Air-Wing Operational Base in Abuja would cater for Abuja–Kaduna highways and the adjoining states in the North-West and North-Central.

    The new base in Ondo State would cater for the adjoining states and highways straddling the South-West.

    He enjoined Nigerians not to panic and go about their lawful businesses, adding that the aerial surveillance was to improve the security of lives and property in the affected areas.

    Confirming the recovery of explosives, Federal capital Territory (FCT) Police Command said the four suspects arrested were caught with unauthorized movement of explosive materials.

    The suspects were arrested by a joint team of police operatives from the Command Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit and Nyanya Police Division at the Baba Nagode Motor Park in Nyanya area of Abuja.

    Read Also: Police arrest, detain rape suspect in Kano

    The suspects are Hamisu Abah, Suleiman Hammeed, Onuh Sunday and Agwan Bulus.

    Command Spokesman Anjuguri Manzah, a DSP, said the suspects had been transferred to the Command Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari  on Thursday engaged representatives of the bandits terrorizing the state in a dialogue to find a permanent solution to incessant attacks and kidnappings in the state

    The meeting, which was held at the State Secretariat, was attended by Deputy Governor Manir Yakubu, heads of security agencies , traditional rulers and districts heads led by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin kabir Usman, Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, Transition Committee Chairmen of the affected eight local Government areas, representatives of Myyeti Allah and the Fulani herdsmen

    It was gathered that the attendance of the representatives of the bandits was made possible by the recent amnesty declared for the bandits by the Northwest governors at a recent meeting

    Masari, who spoke in Hausa, warned that the insecurity rocking the affected areas in the state had become embarrassing to both the state government and President Buhari who hails from the state.

    He further restated the commitment of his government to deploy whatever is necessary to deal decisively with banditry and Kidnapping in the state.

    He said: ’’We are ready to dialogue with the bandits and are ready to go anywhere they invited us, because we are not afraid to meet anybody to end this problem

    ‘’As a leader, I must find the solution to the problem so that if today I die, I  know how to defend myself before God I will not allow this to continue, enough is enough’’

    ‘’ I have directed the security operatives to take all necessary measures to change the narrative on insecurity in the state, by any means necessary’’

  • No Fed Govt. ban on food imports

    President Muhammadu Buhari has not banned or restricted food importation into the country, the Presidency said on Sunday.

    The President on Tuesday in Daura, Katsina State, said he had directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop providing foreign exchange for importation of food into the country.

    However, the statement has been misconstrued as a blanket ban on importation of food.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Sunday faulted such  interpretation.

    Financial Times, a London-based publication alluded to this in a report on August 15, titled: “Muhammadu Buhari sparks dismay over policy shift on food imports.”

    But the Presidency explained that importers of the food items are still free to source their forex from non-government financial institutions towards meeting their importations.

    Read Also: Buhari to military: Don’t spare bandits

    The President’s directive, he said, only has to do with forex from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The Presidency’s letter reads: “Your article ‘Muhammadu Buhari sparks dismay over policy shift on food imports’ (15 August) suggests the Nigerian Government is restricting the import of agricultural products into the country. This is simply incorrect. To be absolutely clear, there is no ban – or restriction – on the importation of food items whatsoever.

    “President Buhari has consistently worked towards strengthening Nigeria’s own industrial and agricultural base. A recent decision sees the CBN maintain its reserves to put to use helping growth of domestic industry in 41 products rather than provide forex for the import of those products from overseas.

    “Should importers of these items wish to source their forex from non-government financial institutions (and pay customs duty on those imports – increasing tax-take, something the FT has berated Nigeria for not achieving on many occasions) they are freely able to do so.

    “Diversification of forex provision towards the private sector and away from top-heavy government control, a diversification of Nigeria’s industrial base, and an increase in tax receipts – are all policies one might expect the Financial Times to support. Yet for reasons not quite clear, the author and this newspaper seem to believe the president’s administration seeks to control everything – and yet do so via policies that relinquish government control.

    “We look forward to the next instalment of Mr. Munshi’s bizarre and puzzling article series.” he stated

  • Fed Govt will redouble efforts to boost healthcare, says Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said the Federal Government will redouble efforts to improve the provision of health facilities, equipment and services in the country.

    He said the people living in rural areas would be given priority to access improved health services.

    The President spoke on Thursday in his home town of Daura, Katsina State, at the inauguration of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Reference Hospital in the town.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying the Federal Government had, in the last four years, invested huge resources in the health sector.

    The statement said it had increased budgetary allocation from N259 billion in 2015 to over N340 billion in 2018.

    “Accordingly, significant strides have been made to life expectancy and reduced some of the killer diseases associated with child and maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, as planned in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Despite this, more efforts are needed to fully eradicate a wide range of diseases and many persistent and emerging health issues in our society,” President Buhari said.

    Read Also: Buhari mourns Daura’s District Head

    The President said dependence on foreign countries for medical treatment could be reduced by turning around the nation’s Health sector.

    He stressed that health services in the rural areas deserve more attention.

    “To achieve this, we must now redouble efforts to focus on providing more efficient funding of the Health sector, improve sanitation and hygiene, and increase access to medical care in the rural areas in order to save lives of millions of Nigerians.

    “There is, therefore, no more auspicious time to commission this Reference Hospital than now,” the President added.

    President Buhari hailed the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for siting the hospital, which has state-of-art medical equipment for radio diagnosis, cancer screening, dialysis, laboratory diagnosis and research, in Daura, to serve the aligning states and communities.

    “This hospital will minimise the need for people in these areas to travel to Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, or even overseas, to receive medical treatment.

    “I urge you to maintain the highest standard and quality services the military is known for in attending to patients and the host community. Maintenance is central to efficiency and satisfactory service delivery,” the President said.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mrs Nuratu Batagarawa, said the project was conceived and implemented with personnel of the military and the community in mind to provide quality health services.

    Abubakar said the 60-bed hospital has nine medical consultants, as well as 61 general medical practitioners and dentists.

    “These developments have significantly enhanced the capacity of the medical services branch to provide quality healthcare to our personnel,” he said.

    The Chief of Air Staff added that the hospital has ultra-modern operating theatres, an intensive care unit, medical laboratory, eye and dental clinics and a physiotherapy department.

     

  • CAN to Buhari: reshuffle security architecture now

    THE local chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kano State has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to tinker with nation’s security architecture.

    Its chairman Rev Samuel Adeyemo, said it was high time the President reviewed the structure in the face of the numerous security challenges in the land.

    He spoke on a day the President renewed his vow to fight insecurity and other attendant challenges to a standstill.

    The CAN chairman urged the President to as a matter of urgency, review the country’s security structure.

    Adeyemo gave the advice in a remark at the “Pastors Solemn Assembly for the Peace and Security of the Church” in Kano held at the Believers Fellowship Baptist Church.

    Adeyemo cited insurgents’ attacks in the Northeast as well as the wave of banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery on the highways in other parts of the country as basis for the appeal and the prayers.

    The CAN chair specifically observed that God has been merciful to the city of Kano by shielding it from the growing wave of insecurity.

    The cleric said: “The wave of kidnapping, herdsmen killings, armed robbery attacks on our highways and the insecurity in nation prompted us to call for these prayers. The Muslims and Christians must rise up and pray.

    “Secondly, let the security apparatus of the nation, that is the Federal Government needs to reshuffle the security apparatus; let them review it because we have the expertise; we have the materials to restore the nation’s security.”

    He noted that coming together of all the pastors in the state for a solemn prayer on security was an acknowledgement of the protection of God and a prayer for the sustenance of the peace.

    The cleric, however, appreciated the efforts of Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the various security agencies for their roles, urging them to rededicate their efforts.

    Read Also: I’ll fight for the poor, Buhari assures

    Speaking in Batsari, Katsina State, President Buhari assured that perpetrators of banditry and kidnapping attacks would be brought to justice.

    He was on a sympathy visit to 1,050 Internally Displaced persons (IDP), selected from the affected eight frontline local government areas bordering the Ruga Forest in the state, said those kidnapping, maiming lives and calling God are not true faithful because “it is either they don’t know God or disagree with Him.”

    He said: “What brought me here is to condole you over the recent bandit’s attacks affecting not only you but all of us. I have nothing to add on what the Emir had already spoken extensively about, but all what leaders should do right from home is ensure justice.

    “I assure you that we sleep and wake-up with the sad moment of banditry and kidnapping activities in the state and country. By the Grace of God we will use soldiers, police and other public servants to end banditry.

    “All those whose activities are to kill people and saying ‘Allahu Akbar!’ are lying, because God is not wicked. You can’t carry bomb or gun, sword or knife to go and kill innocent somebody and say ‘Allahu Akbar!’. This implies that you either don’t believe in God or you don’t know what you are saying.

    “There is popular Hausa adage says ‘it’s the rat in the house that tells the rat outside that there is fish in the house’, so within yourselves, your neighbors and even your relatives there are informants.

    “So in this case, both you and I don’t know them, it’s only God that knows them, we can’t do anything here rather intensity prayers for God’s intervention by exposing them.”

    He urged the people to remain patient with the government and to assuring that with their collaboration with the top to bottom authorities comprising ward, village and district heads, Emirs and the governors, normalcy will be restored in the shortest possible time

    The headquarters of Basari Local Government Area is regarded as the hotbed of banditry and kidnapping attacks amongst the eight front line local government areas of Katsina State.

    In his opening remarks, Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari said the amnesty and offer of dialogue granted by the Northwest governors with improved security collaboration, has helped in scaling down attacks in the state

    He acknowledged that the large expanse of RUGA forest offered the bandits an unfettered opportunity to unleash attacks on hapless citizens and assist them in changing locations easily whenever they are repelled by security forces.

    Emir of Katsina Abdulmumin Usman warned against reprisal attacks, and called for efficient information dissemination between the people, traditional rulers and the government on security matters.

  • Buhari, Conde, Masari observe Eid prayers in Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari, alongside his visiting guest and President of Guinea, Alpha Conde joined other Muslim faithfuls in Daura, Katsina state, on Sunday morning thronged the Kofar Arewa praying ground, to observe the Eid-El- Kabir prayers.

    Buhari who was decked in Khaki colour flowing robe (Babanriga) with brown cap and a pair of brown shoes to match, arrived the praying ground in a black Mercedes Limousine about 9.35am

    Also at the prayer ground were prominent Nigerians including the Emir of Daura, Umar Faruq Umar, the recently freed Magajin Gari Daura, former DSS boss, Mamman Daura, and prominent officials of the Katsina state government

    The two Raqat prayers were immediately observed with Malam Sefiyanu Yusuf who led the prayers and read the sermons which revolved around the importance of the Salah as a demonstration of Moslems loyalty and obeisance to Almighty Allah.

    The Emir of Daura, Umar Faruq Umar, in his brief comments, lauded President Buhari’s administration, assuring him of the support of people of Katsina state.

    He said” We are proud of you; we are proud of your administration and we shall continue to pray for you. You will continue to triumph over your enemies.”

    Governor Aminu Masari who also attended the prayer session, praised President Buhari for his strong attachment to the people of the state. He urged him on in his efforts at repositioning the country.

    Masari also urged Nigerians to always put leaders in their prayers, and hold them accountable in a peaceful manner. He insisted that prayers, not confrontation, are what Nigerian leaders require to help them navigate the ship of state through the turbulence of security and social challenges besetting the nation.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Chief Odigie Oyegun at 80

    He said’’ although it was within the right of citizens to request a fair deal from the government, it is however, counterproductive to allow the heart to rule over the head by being confrontational in the approach’’.

    While calling on Muslims to imbibe the virtues of respect and obedience to the command of Allah, equality, love for one another, which the annual Pilgrimage seeks to teach, he stated that the last thing the country needed is disobedience to the Constitution, which prescribes legitimate methods of seeking the government’s attention.

    President Buhari and his guest, later at the praying ground, performed the traditional slaughtering of the Salah rams.

    A Durbar was later held in the day in Daura in honour of the visiting Guinean President. Meanwhile, the Salah celebration was generally peaceful in the state.

     

     

  • 10,000 for FUDMA UTME screening Monday

    About 10,000 candidate are expected to participate in the post UTME screening exercise for the 2019 admission into Federal University Dutsinma, FUDMA, Katsina State, beginning from Monday, August 5

    The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Habib Matazu, told the Nation on Sunday in Katsina during an exclusive chat, that the exercise which may last one month, shall be carried out in batches and within the time ranges as provided in the notification slips already issued to candidates

    While expressing delight at the increasing number of students who are either choosing FUDMA as their first choice or changing their choices in favor of the university, he assured that the process of screening shall remain transparent in line with the anti-corruption crusade embarked by the institution

    Meanwhile the Acting Vice chancellor of the University, Professor Adamu N. Baba-kutigi has charged the students and the staff of the institution to embrace the anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammad Buhari’s administration, In other to move the country to the next level

    The VC who made the call during the inauguration of the varsity’s ant-corruption and transparency unit, ACTU, said stakeholders in the higher institutions have a huge role to play in ensuring accountability and transparency as well as promoting a new generation of honest and reliable leaders of tomorrow.

    Read Also: OAU post UTME to hold from August 31

    He said’’ development of any kind cannot occur in the absence of a system that is transparent and accountable. Accountability, transparency and good governance are mutually reinforcing concepts that assume global currency today’’

    Also speaking at the occasion, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Professor A S Mikailu, described accountability in governance as requiring holding public officials accountable for their actions and the need to ensure that public funds are spent for the purpose specified without personal gain to any individual

    He said’’ since attaining independence in 1960, one of the major issues of o concern to Nigeria is how to ensure a system that is fair, open, accessible and accountable to the people’’

  • Gunmen abduct varsity lecturer in Katsina

    A lecturer at the Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State, Abubakar Idris,  has been abducted by gunmen.

    Spokesperson for the Katsina State police command, Yakubu Sabo,   said the lecturer was abducted on Friday in his Kaduna residence.

    Sabo said the Barnawa police division informed the command that two unknown persons gained entry into Idris’ apartment to whisk him away.

    According to him, patrol teams led by the DPO quickly moved to the scene but the hoodlums had escaped with the victim.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill three in Benue

    He said investigation later revealed that the victim was likely trailed by the hoodlums “while returning home at about 01:00hrs”.

    “The unidentified men forced him to enter his ash-coloured BMW car with registration number not yet known and zoomed off to an unknown destination,” he said.

    “The command is currently making efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspected criminals and rescue the victim.”

    Last month, gunmen had abducted a director with the Sharia court of appeal in the state, killing her son.

  • Masari: Banditry attacks will soon be history in Katsina

    Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has declared that the current banditry attacks and insecurity in the state will soon become history, thanks to the concerted efforts of security agencies, the state government and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the scourge.

    The governor, who made the declaration at the Government House shortly after a -5-hour security meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, including the two first-class traditional rulers of Daura and Katsina and the Secretary to the State Government, said there are growing indications that the security situation in the state has greatly improved, particularly in the eight frontline local government areas.

    He said, “We have reviewed the situation and so far are satisfied with the progress made. We have not gotten there yet, but definitely we will be there. That is why we have taken over five hours discussing what has happened and planning how to go forward with the approaches to make sure that normalcy has completely been restored, particularly in the eight frontline local governments in Katsina State.”

    On the issue of providing additional security for the farmers, the governor said his priority is to restore normalcy first and then other concerns particularly security for the farmers will follow.

    He said, “I think there are so many issues, but first of all let us restore normalcy. The next step is to find out why it happened and how it happened…”

    “You cannot run away from economic issues that have affected the people negatively for a long time and I think we are restructuring the restoration agenda which we have started by constructing schools and clinic along the area and the next step is restoring needed infrastructure in the area.”

    On the issue of dialoguing with the bandits, the governor proffers a holistic approach where other bordering states in the northwest would be involved.

    Read Also: New Minimum wage: Katsina to engage state NLC

    He said, “What is going on in Zamfara affects Katsina State. Right now in Zamfara, we have what we call dialogue with the bandits, which we did  long ago in Katsina, but we realised that for it to be successful, it has to be done collectively alongside with the issue of amnesty in the entire northwest.”

    Masari called for a united and common approach on the issue of dialogue and amnesty with the bandits to ensure peace in the region.

     

  • 10 feared dead, five injured as police, suspected bandits clash

    A TEAM of “Operation Puff Adder”, led by the Divisional Police Officer in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, at the weekend engaged 300 suspected bandits in a gun duel.

    Ten persons were feared dead and five were injured. Five vehicles and four motorcycles were set ablaze.

    The suspects, who were on motorcycles, were armed with weapons.

    They had attacked Kirtawa village, but following a distress call by residents of neighbouring villages, the police raced to the scene and engaged them in a gun battle.

    Read Also: Mob justice: Police arrest five for murder

    Spokesman Gambo Isah said in a statement that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Safana initially led the teams of “Operations Puff Adder and Sharan-Daji” to the scene and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel.

    He added: “The hoodlums shot the tyres of the Armoured Personnel Vehicle and injured one soldier and a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel.

    “At the time the combined ground forces were mobilized to the village, the hoodlums had escaped into the forest. Ten persons were feared dead and five were injured. Five vehicles and four motorcycles were set ablaze.”

    Isah said the hoodlums rustled cows, adding that investigations showed that it was a reprisal carried out by the criminals against the community.

    He said joint security forces have been deployed in the area to restore peace and arrest the fleeing hoodlums.

    “The command commiserates with the bereaved families and other Katsina State residents over the incident.

    “It assures the people that security forces are mapping out strategies to end banditry.”