The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Katsina State

  • NDLEA arrests 818, seize 452.4kg of Cannabis in Katsina

    The Katsina State Branch of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on Wednesday declared the arrest of 818 drug pushers as well seized 452.41kg of Cannabis Sativa, 26,099 bottles of Cough Syrups with codeine and 10,746 tablets of psychotropic substance during the year 2018

    The State Commander of the NDLEA, Hajia Maryam Gambo Sani who made the disclosure at the Official Commissioning of the Agency’s Rehabilitation and Counseling Center donated by the Katsina State Government, also disclosed that 104 out of the number arrested were convicted to various jail terms while 714 drug users were counseled

    She further maintained that in the first quarter of this year, her agency has so far made seizures of 66.12kg of CS, 15.7kg of psychotropic substances, 38 bottles cough syrup with codine and arrested 182 suspects while counseling 131 others

    The Commander further promised that her agency will put the new rehabilitation center to good use and ensure its maximum use.

    Read Also: NDLEA arraigns suspected drug syndicate

    She said ’’In our tradition of discipline, diligence and prudence, this structure like others will be put to good use. We shall make maximum use of it for effective drug demand reduction as the center has the capacity to train clients in skills acquisition such as soap making, Knitting,Tailoring,Computer Training and handset Repairs’’

    ‘’Today is memorable to us as we close the three months of rehabilitation, counseling of  thirty female clients which was shouldered by her Excellency and the Ministry of Women Affairs’’

    She also assured that the program carried out at the center will be more enhanced with a robust a deliberate after care approach and also pointed out the need for those rehabilitated to  be engaged in further skills acquisition as three months training is insufficient for certain categories of trades

    Also speaking while commissioning the Center valued at N41m, the State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Manir Yakubu, commended the NDLEA for their efforts to free the state from illicit drug consumption and abuse

    He recalled that since the inception of his administration in 2015,the state government have not relented in championing reduction in the activities of illicit drug peddling and consumption in the state, which he described as worrisome and an ugly development

    He said ’’the Counseling and Rehabilitation of 30 female clients by NDLEA in conjunction with the Ministry of women Affairs is a further demonstration of the significance of the center and the need for it to be kept functional’’

     

  • Masari inaugurates health promotion campaigns in Katsina

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari on Thursday inaugurated Health Promotion Outreach Campaign in Kurfi Local Government, decrying the alarming rate of child mortality rate in the state.

    He noted that about 900,000 children and mothers die annually in the country.

    The Health Promotion Outreach Programme is being sponsored by the state’s “Save One Million Lives Programme, supported by donor agencies and the state Ministry of health

    Masari, who described the National Child Mortality rate as unacceptable, further revealed that the aggregate data showed that the nation only made modest progress in the health sector in the past two decades despite the huge investment by the three levels of government.

    Read Also: Why I seek reelection -Masari

    He said: “We have observed that solution focused on improved inputs has not worked in the past but the availability of many of the health inputs such as health facilities and trained health workers suggested that governance broadly defined impending or binding constraints.

    “This Save One Million Lives Programme provides us with an opportunity to broadly address governance and the management issues towards ensuring  greater focus on the result; increased accountability; improved measurement and the encouragement of innovation.”

  • IGP vows to smoke out bandits and kidnappers

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar arrived Katsina state on Wednesday to rally support for his newly launched “Operation Puff Adder” aimed at wiping out banditry and other insecurity challenges in the eight frontline local government areas of the state bordering Zamfara

    Speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Aminu Bello Masari who was represented by his Deputy, Manir Yakubu, the IGP reiterated the commitment of the Police to reduce banditry in the state to a barest minimum

    He said “the activities of the bandits and kidnappers in the state have become a source of concern to President Muhammadu Buhari who has directed us to clear the bandits through whatever means’’

    “Insecurity challenges in the state could be brought to a low level if we have the required cooperation from the public and the traditional institutions. We shall employ community policing strategy in implementing this presidential directive’’

    “We shall take the war to the camp of the bandits in the forest, to identify, destroy and occupy their camps. Clearing the bandits and prosecuting them is a task that must be done. As we succeeded in arresting those who kidnapped the Governor’s mother in-law recently so shall we arrest and prosecute these bandits’’

    Responding, the governor described the present security challenges in the state as ‘a period of anxiety and apprehension whereby a part of the state is taken over by bandits who strike, kill and maim the citizens at will’’

    Read Also: Buhari committed to ending criminality, banditry – IGP

    The Governor further expressed shock that the kidnappers have taken over the highways in the state and harass citizens even at their homes and places of comforts

    He said “We appreciate the latest directive by the President which will put paid to the end of criminality in the state and the entire North West’’

    “With the synergy of operation in the entire North West, it will be all encompassing and will restrain the bandits in their strides. We have always assisted in funds and logistics and we do same again. We will do whatever it takes to protect live and property because security is the first responsibility of any government’’

    The IGP also visited Basari, one of the strategic camps the squad was deployed to interact with members of the squad as well as the traditional rulers. He also visited the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdumuminu Kabir Usman

     

     

  • 20 vigilantes killed, 38 injured in an auto crash

    Twenty members of vigilante group from Niger state killed while about thirty eight injured in an auto crash on their way from Tsafe local government of Zamfara state where they went on Friday to received Gun protectio concoction.

    Tsafe local government of Zamfara state has become a center of attraction Since invasion by bandits in the state where people troop from all corners of the country to received concoction for gun protection.

    The accident occurred Saturday morning in Funtua, Katsina state where the vehicle a Mitsubishi Canter was conveying about sixty five of them back to their local government of Shiroro in Niger state.

    Read Also: Govt cautions vigilantes

    One of the accident victim simply call Buhari disclosed that they were all tired and feeling very sleepy when suddenly lose control and started tumbling according to him they have been on transit from shiroro to Tsafe and are going back to their local government in Niger state when the accident occurred.

    Sector commander of the federal Road Safety Corp Mr. Joshua Bulus Ako disclosed that the accident was caused by serious fatigue on the driver who has been traveling with them for over thirty hours.

    Ako call on commuters to ensure that they have full sleep and rest whenever they are feeling tired to ensure accident free society also urging travellers to ensure that their attention is always cast on their drivers to make sure he has full energy and is fatigue free.

    The bodies of the accident victims has on Saturday morning with representatives of their families from Shiroro local government buried in funtua according to Islamic rites while the injured victims were receiving treatment at the Shehu Sambo Idris Specialist hospital in the same local government.

  • Bore hole operators, drillers to pay tax in Katsina

    The Katsina State Government said it would tax borehole owners and operators in the state as part of measures aimed at generating revenue for the state and also to address indiscriminate drilling of borehole by several private houses in the state without following due processes

    The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Salisu Gambo Dandume, told The Nation on Saturday in an exclusive interview, that the situations where owners of private houses embark on drilling of boreholes even without observing the mandatory kilometer spacing have become worrisome

    He further assured that the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, RUWASSA, shall be strengthened to enforce laws the drilling and installation of bore holes in the state

    In a related development that the State Government has assured that the recent water scarcity that hit the state in the past two weeks shall be over by the end of April following the expected delivery of two new water pumping machines on April 8 which when installed will immediately boost water supply in the state.

    Read Also: Police nabs kidnap syndicate, recover arms in Katsina

    The Commissioner attributed the scarcity water in the state to the failure of the water pumping machines to deliver supplies

    He said ’’the water scarcity that is noticeable in the state is largely caused by the failure of the water pumping machine, which has aged between 5-6 years now, and has experienced inadequate maintenance and lack of spare parts’’.

    ‘’We have placed an order for a new one, 3 to 4 months ago with delivery expected to be made April 8.each pump costs about N94m’’

    ‘’When installed it will ease the suffering of Katsina people in the area of water supply, and the issue of scarcity will be addressed once and for all

    Alhaji Dandume also disclosed that the expected commencement of water supply from the Zobe Dam project represents another big relief in the delivery of water to the people.

    ‘’The delay in commission the Zone water project was caused by series of testing the project was subjected to. We tested the water pressure and the booster pumps and the area gravity that should empower water supply’’

    “We encountered canalization of some Zobe water pipelines and stealing of heavy water metals which needed repairs all of which contributed to the delays’’

    Investigations by The Nation revealed that some of the areas affected by the scarcity include: Layout, GRA, Dandagoro, Rafindadi, Abatour, Kofar Sauri, and Goruba Road among others.

    Residents combed the streets with their kegs to fetch water from any available sources, while water vendors were seen crowding available water boreholes in vain, waiting to buy water and sell to their growing number of customers

     

     

  • Customs seize 1,942 bags of foreign rice, other goods in Katsina

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, has seized no fewer than 1,942 bags of foreign rice and other goods in Katsina State in two months.

    The Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Mustapha Sarkin-Kebbi, made this known on Monday during a news conference.

    He said that the unit also seized 350 jerry cans of vegetable oil, 400 cartons of spaghetti, 160 bags of foreign sugar and six fairly-used vehicles.

    According to him, the customs also seized 39 vehicles which the smugglers used in conveying the prohibited items into the country.

    He noted that the seized items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N107.2 million.

    The controller commended the Customs officers for their efforts, urging them to keep up the good efforts for the betterment of the country.

    “The Customs made about 74 seizures between February and March, 2019, in Katsina State alone.

    Read Also: Customs arrests Nigerian with N30m worth tramadol

    “Two persons were arrested in connection with the smuggling activities and will be prosecuted.

    “We have more problem in Katsina than in other states, may be due to the mentality of people involved in that illegal business.

    ‘’Everyday our officers go out for duty, they will seize smuggled items.

    “Smugglers are becoming more sophisticated. If they see there is problem here, they will turn to another place but we are also equal to the task,’’ Sarkin-Kebbi said.

    He urged the relevant authorities to intensify efforts toward enlightening the border communities on the dangers associated with smuggling activities.

    “The smugglers need to be sensitized in order to change their minds from smuggling of illicit items into the country,’’ the controller said.

    NAN

  • Police nab kidnapping syndicate, recover AK 47 in Katsina

    The Katsina state Police command on Saturday announced the arrest of a notorious Cattle rustling and kidnapping Syndicate, recovering in the process an AK 47 riffle with breech no. 1977

    A press release which was signed by the Public relations Officer in the state Superintendent Gambo Isa said the arrests was based on a tip off

    He listed those arrested to include: Umar Usman alias “ORI”, aged 45, of Garin Dan –Gambo village, Rugu forest, Safana LGA, alleged to have been terrorizing Safana and Batsari LGAs of Katsina state.

    He said’’ In the course of investigation one AK 47 rifle with breech No. 1977 was recovered in his possession.  Suspect is assisting the police with useful information that may lead to the arrest of other members of his syndicate’’.

    In a related development, the State Command has also announced the recovery of one Ak 47 rifle breech no. 89-11825 with two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, a fire wood cutter, one Aliyu Sani, aged 25 of Sabon Layi village, Faskari, who was reported to have been attacked by armed bandits in the forest.

    Read Also: Two killed in Katsina

    The release further stated that the Police patrol team was immediately dispatched to the scene and engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel, with the team succeeding in dislodging them and recovering one AK.47 rifle with breech number 89-11825 and two rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition abandoned by the hoodlums.

    Also the Command arrested the duo of Sanusi Sani, aged 30 of Landan-Ketare village, Kankara LGA of Katsina state and one Bello Abdullahi,  aged 30 of the same address, who while armed with dangerous weapons, blocked Tashar Kawu – Unguwar Zaki feeder road, Kankara and robbed one Abbas Halilu, aged 25 of Bada’u village, Kankara of his Techno Handset valued at ten thousand naira  and another unregistered motorcycle Bajaj valued one hundred and eighty thousand naira (180,000:00K) after beating him to a state of coma.

    The release disclosed that In the course of investigation, the suspects confessed to have sold the motorcycle at the cost of one hundred thousand (N100,000:00K) in Kano state, and also  confessed to other series of armed robbery incidents, terrorizing Kankara and its environs.

    The PPPRO assured that all the arrested suspects will be diligently prosecuted in a law court.

     

  • Masari commends NYSC for promoting youth development and empowerment

    The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari has commended the National Youth Service Scheme for promoting youth development and empowerment in the country.

    The Governor who was represented by the state Chairman, NYSC Governing Board, Aminu Ibrahim Khalil, at the swearing-in-ceremony of the 2019 Batch ‘A’ corps members deployed to the state, assured that government would continue to support NYSC which he described as viable channel for developing Nigerian youths to the next level

    Meanwhile the state Coordinator of the NYSC scheme, Hajia Ramatu Sanda has appealed to the Katsina state government to provide additional accommodation and potable water to its orientation camp in the state to address the social challenges facing the camp, its officials and corps members.

    Hajia Sanda also recalled that some camp officials stay outside the camp for lack of adequate hostel accommodation.

    Read Also: Why I seek reelection -Masari

    She said: “Due to the ever-increasing corps population posted to Katsina state, every service year which needs proper handling and monitoring 24 hours, there is need for additional hotel blocks for camp officials to reside in the camp during orientation course programmes”.

    The NYSC Coordinator further disclosed that at the close of registration, 2, 200 corps members were registered for the twenty-one-day orientation course adding that 1,152 are males, while 1,048 are females.

    While appealing to the state government to also provide jeepee tanks to reticulate water to staff quarters, Mrs. Sanda lauded the host communities and collaborating agencies for their unalloyed supports in all ramifications.

    Declaring the orientation course open, Governor Masari urged the corps members to shun cultism, political violence and religious intolerance during and after their service year.

  • Buhari returns to Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday returned to Abuja after he participated in the Saturday’s Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly election in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidential aircraft conveying the president, his wife Aisha Buhari and some of his aides landed the at presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 12.30p.m.

    The president was received at the airport by his Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammed Bello and other presidential aides as well as government officials.

    While in Daura, the president exercised his civic responsibility on March 9 at the polling unit 003, Kofar Baru III (A and B) Daura, Katsina State, where he voted for a governorship candidate and member of the state house of assembly that would represent his constituency, Daura.

    At the end of the exercise on Saturday, President Buhari successfully delivered thepolling unit to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the state, Aminu Masari, with 370 votes.

    Read Also: Buhari: I’ll leave legacy of free, fair elections

    On March 10, President Buhari received representatives of community and development associations from Daura Emirate at his private residence in Daura, who came to congratulate him on his re-election.

    The president’s old schoolmates and Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State were also among those that visited the president at his residence in Daura to congratulate him on his re-election for a second term.

    Masari, who was accompanied by prominent citizens of the state including some members of his cabinet, also formally informed President Buhari of his victory at the March 9 governorship election in the state.

    NAN

  • Three abducted INEC ad-hoc staff in Katsina regain freedom

    The three Independent National Electoral commission’s (INEC) adhoc staffs that were abducted on Saturday have regained their freedom.

    According to a police report, the three were released at about 9 pm Sunday night.

    They have since being reunited with their families.

    The Katsina police Command in a statement said they have been taken to Danmusa hospital for medical checkup.

    The terse statement reads: ” Today 10/03/2019 at about 21:00hrs, the 3 abducted INEC ad hoc staff were released by their abductors. They have been taken to Danmusa Hospital for medical checkups and later rejoined their respective families. Investigation is top gear with a view to arrest the  hoodlums. I will continue to keep you posted.”