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  • Katsina at 36:  Radda lauds founding fathers, solicits citizens’ support

    Katsina at 36:  Radda lauds founding fathers, solicits citizens’ support

    Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has commended the state’s founding leaders and congratulated the people in celebration of the state’s 36th anniversary.

    The Nation recalled that Katsina state was created September 23,1987, by the then president Ibrahim Babangida alongside some other states

    Radda also acknowledged  that Katsina has made significant strides in socio-economic growth over the past three decades despite facing developmental challenges.

    He further expressed his profound gratitude to General Babangida for his visionary role in creating Katsina State and the vital contribution of prominent Katsina public figures who passionately advocated for the state’s creation 36 years ago.

    Read Also: Akwa Ibom at 36: Reps member advocates peace for development, prosperity

    He said: “We are indebted to General Babangida for his wisdom in birthing our dear state. We must celebrate this historic milestone. Our great Katsina owes its existence to the visionaries who tirelessly fought for its creation.”

    ”Katsina state, despite being one of the younger states in the federation, stands out due to its abundant natural resources and exceptional human capital.

    ”Katsina has produced two Nigerian presidents, including a Vice President, and numerous other distinguished figures who have contributed significantly to national development.”

    While acknowledging the security challenges facing the state, Governor Radda reassures the people that his administration is working diligently to restore peace and security.

    It was garthered that the state government has so far implemented effective policies and allocated adequate funds to support security agencies.

  • Banditry: Governor calls for more security personnel in Katsina

    Banditry: Governor calls for more security personnel in Katsina

    The Commandant General (CG) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi, has met with the Governor of Katsina state, Dr Dikko Umar Radda on possible deployment of more personnel of the Corps to areas troubled by bandits and kidnappers in the state.

    Governor Radda, who visited the headquarters of the Corps in Abuja, said there is urgent need for reinforcements of more security personnel in the state considering the levels of threats to peace and security by the activities of bandits and kidnappers.

    The governor, who praised the leadership of the Corps for its steadfastness and commitment to ensure peace and tranquillity, said his visit was aimed at solidifying the existing cordial relationship between the state and the NSCDC.

    He lamented the inadequate number of personnel across security services which have impeded the expected success in the fight against insecurity.

    Read Also: Banditry: Governor Radda calls for more security personnel in Katsina

    He explained that the state has trained and engaged the service of about 1,500 indigenes to assist the conventional security agencies in the state.

    “I believe with the engagement of the locals in the form of civilian Joint Task Force (JTF), combined with the conventional security, we will go a long way in combating insecurity and reduce it to the barest minimum,” Governor Radda said.

    Commandant-General assured the Governor of the Corps’ commitment to curbing insecurity by employing both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to achieving results.

    “I understand that Katsina State has experienced some bandit attacks in the last couple of years.  Its vulnerability which is partly due to its big size and geographical location as a state bordering other states in the North and the Niger Republic is of great concern. But be rest assured that with the on-going recruitment in the Corps, more men would be deployed to Katsina to strengthen security in the state,” Dr Audi asserted.

  • Katsina first lady to partner NDE on job creation

    Katsina first lady to partner NDE on job creation

    Katsina State First Lady Hajiya Zulaihat Umaru Dikko Radda has commended the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for its sustained efforts in job creation nationwide.

    Hajiya Zulaihat made the commendation when she visited NDE Director-General, Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo in his office.

    According to her, the job creation initiatives of the NDE has impacted positively on many jobless Nigerians especially the indigenes of Katsina State where thousands of jobless people have gone through diverse skills acquisition programmes of NDE and became employed.

    “We came here today to appreciate NDE for her impactful job creation mandate nationwide, we are particularly happy that many indigenes of Katsina State who hitherto were unemployed had gone through different programmes of NDE and became employed, some of them employers of labour”.

     “We are here to seek more areas of collaboration with the Directorate so as to provide more jobs for the jobless especially the women of Katsina State”.

    Read Also: TUC, NLC differ on modalities for planned strike

    Mallam Fikpo, commended the first lady for hitting the ground running, noting that she has come to the right place for job creation benefits for the good people of Katsina State. He said unemployment is not peculiar to Nigeria but a global challenge. He added that unemployment in Nigeria can be best tackled through skills acquisition, entrepreneurship development and provision of blue collar jobs as being done in the developed world. He then invited the Directors of Programme departments who were present at the meeting to brief the first lady on different job creation Programmes and Schemes of the NDE.

    The Directors who spoke in turns unfolded over one hundred training schemes under the four core programmes of the Directorate, which are Vocational Skills Development, Micro and Small Scale Enterprises Development, Special Public Works and Rural Employment Promotion.

    The Office of the first lady and NDE will meet at a later date to fashion out expansion of the existing collaboration between the State and the Directorate.

    Mallam Fikpo used the opportunity to call on other state government authorities, parastatals, other agencies of government and philanthropists to explore the collaboration window of the NDE and assist in skills acquisition to create self employment jobs for the jobless. He observed that NDE is already in collaboration with many of the state governments and has created millions of blue collar jobs since inception. He called on the jobless in Nigeria especially the youth and women groups to face reality, embrace skills acquisition and get decent jobs, saying days of white collar jobs are long gone.

  • Katsina budgets N26.6b to tackle flooding, others

    Katsina budgets N26.6b to tackle flooding, others

    The Katsina State government has announced an allocation of N26.6billion as well as  control strategies to curtail cases of flooding and environmental challenges in the state

    The Commissioner for Environment, Musa Adamu Funtua, who told The Nation in his office in Katsina, that the state is ready to contain flooding and other environmental hazards.

    He underscored the cornerstone of the administration’s policy agenda through the provision of developmental initiatives that encompasses various aspects of governance.

    It would be recalled that 13 states were recently listed to experience flooding. They include Nassarawa, Benue, Niger, and Katsina.

    The measures include construction of 13 ecological projects, campaigns on the right environmental practices, evacuation of wastes and drainages, construction of drainage sites in Jibia.

    Read Also:Niger coup: Jigawa, Katsina border towns grapple with starvation, stagnation

    He said ’’there are plans by the state government to embark on sensitizing communities on the dangers of poor environments and littering of wastes,’’

    ‘’we are also working in collaboration with sister agencies like the Ministry of works, taking several proactive measures as well as the establishment of 7 centers for clearing gabbages in the major towns and communities’’

    ‘’there are also plans to clear inherited water channels in Danja, Radda and Daura’’

    The commissioner while assuring on the unwavering commitment of Governor Dikko Radda’s administration to advancing development within the state, said the state will further embark on proactive measures, including afforestation, planting of trees, clearing of culverts and so on within the first 100 days of the Governor’s tenure in office

  • Katsina budgets N26.6b, map out control strategy for flood

    Katsina budgets N26.6b, map out control strategy for flood

    The Katsina State Government has announced a budgetary allocation of N26.6b as well as mapped out several control strategies for the rising cases of flooding of the water ways and several other environmental challenges.

    Commissioner for Environment, Musa Adamu Funtua, who announced the measures during an exclusive chat with The Nation in his office in Katsina, said the State is ready to contain flooding and other environmental hazards

    He underscored the cornerstone of the administration’s policy agenda through the provision of developmental initiatives that encompasses various aspects of governance.

    The Nation recalls that 13 States were recently projected to experience flooding in the country. 

    Funtua said some of the flood control measures include: construction of 13 number of ecological projects enlightenment campaign measures to sensitise the public on the right environmental practices, evacuation of wastes and drainages, immediate construction of drainage sites in jibia, cleaning of gabbages and so on

    He said: ’’There are plans by the State Government to embark on sensitizing communities on the dangers of poor environments and littering of wastes.

    ‘’We are also working in collaboration with sister agencies like the Ministry of works, taking several proactive measures as well as the establishment of 7 centers for clearing gabbages in the major towns and communities.

    Read Also: Katsina Govt supports victims of banditry with N20m

    ‘’There are also plans to clear inherited water channels in Danja, Radda and Daura.”

    The commissioner while assuring on the unwavering commitment of Governor Dikko Radda’s administration to advancing development, said the State will further embark on proactive measures, including afforestation, planting of trees, clearing of culverts and so on within the first one hundred days of the Governor’s tenure in office

  • Bandits ambush policemen in Katsina

    Bandits on Wednesday ambushed men of the “Operation Puff Adder” in Kankara Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State.

    The bandits killed a policeman in the team, which was responding to a distress call from one of the villages under attack.

    Four policemen were injured by the assailants before they fled into the forest.

    Commissioner for Police Sanusi Buba spoke parading arrested bandits, kidnappers and cattle rustlers at the state headquarters.

    He said the bandits, who ambushed the police were about 300 and they rode on no fewer than 200 motorcycles.

    He appealed to residents to assist the police with actionable intelligence reports that would enable them to rid the state of any form of criminality.

    CP Buba announced that his command busted the operations of notorious syndicate of cattle rustling, kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery suspects.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise 30 bandits in Zamfara communities

    He added that his men recovered various arms and ammunition as well as logistics and food items.

    The Commissioner for Police said another team, which was led by Batsari Divisional Police Officer (DPO), succeeded in smashing a notorious syndicate of cattle rustlers, armed robbers and kidnappers terrorising Batsari and Safana LGAs.

    ‘’Nemesis caught up with members of the syndicate and they were subdued and arrested inside the house of one notorious bandit, “Dogo Bello (now at large) , who is strongly suspected to have kidnapped the Ward Head of Garin Labo.”

    Some of the arrested suspects that were paraded include Mu’azu Amadu , 60; Suleman Amadu, 65; Abu Bello, 60; Abubakar Lawal, alias “Maigoro”, 35 – all of Sinji village, Batsari LGA.

    The police boss added that the command succeeded in arresting members of a notorious syndicate of kidnapping and armed robbery suspects at Kampanin Daudawa village in Faskari LGA.

    According to him, the bandits met their waterloo, when they attacked the house of Hassan Rabo of Kamfanin Daudawa village, robbing him of his motorcycle and other valuables after inflicting injuries on him.

    Those arrested include Rabi’u Muhammed, 30 of Unguwar Daji, Minna, Niger State; Aminu Ahmed, 22; Ibrahim Mu’azu, 20; Danlami Bala, 25; and Ibrahim Mohammed, 23.

    He said: “One locally made Dane gun and two machetes were recovered from them.”

  • 20 bandits, kidnappers arrested in Katsina

    Troops have arrested 20 bandits and kidnappers in Katsina State, among them a notorious kingpin, the Army said yesterday.

    Its spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said troops recovered weapons, motorcycles and foodstuff from the criminals.

    He alleged in a statement that the gang was responsible for cattle-rustling and kidnapping in Katsina.

    The statement reads: “In continuation of operations against armed banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminalities in Katsina State, troops of 17 Brigade on Operation Harbin Kunama III, have arrested a notorious bandit/kidnapping kingpin, Mallam Bawa Gomna and 20 others during operations around Batsari, Jibia and Safana Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Katsina State between June 3 to 21, 2019.

    “Those arrested so far are reportedly responsible for terrorising villagers in Batsari, Jibia and Safana Local Government Areas.

    “The criminal elements were apprehended based on credible intelligence from the locals, and have confessed taking part in several banditry activities, cattle-rustling and other sundry crimes.

    Read Also: Kidnappers’ hideouts, arms discovered in Niger

    “They, as usual, will be handed over to the respective law enforcement agency for further action.

    “The 17 Brigade Nigerian Army commends and appreciates all those that provided the information that led to the arrest of the criminals and urged members of the public to continue to support security agencies with credible information to combat the insecurity.”

    Col Musa said those arrested and items recovered are: Bawa Gomna of Garin Waiziri in Safana LGA, Mallam Bello Sabiu of Fafara village of Jibia LGA and

    Ibrahim Umar of Fafara village, Jibia LGA – logistics suppliers of the bandits.

    Others are Mallam Ibrahim Labo of Shamushelle village in Birnin Magaji LGA, Zamfara State, Musa Lawal (Maitonga village in Safana LGA), Mallam Adamu Mohammed (Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA) and Ibrahim Babangida Mairuwa (Faskari LGA).

    Also arrested are Sani Adamu (Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA), Yusuf Abubakar ( Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA) and Adamu Saidu (Mairuwa village, Faskari LGA of Katsina State).

    “Also, troops recovered motorcycles, foodstuffs, handsets and jerry cans of petroleum motor sprit (PMS) from the bandits,” Col. Musa stated.

  • Between Cross River and Katsina

    SIR: I must confess that Professor Ben Ayade’s approach to governance impressed me. His effort to transform Cross River State into an industrial hub is commendable. Recently, the federal government through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) placed a N3 billion order for the state to supply rice seedlings to all the states in the southern part of the country.

    Ayade, unlike other governors, is focused, resilient and using his God-given intellect to turn round the fortune of his state. According to Ayade “The rice seeds and seedlings factory was my first term project. What we are doing here is to produce high quality and disease resistant seedlings to farmers and we have started reaping from our labour”.

    He further stated that “Cross River is trying to take a lead but with almost zero allocation relative to our overhead costs, but that is where the joy lies, because if the governor’s job is to sit down and receive allocations, award contracts and approve payment then, any Tom, Dick and Harry can be a governor”.

    “The beauty of a governor comes when there is creativity where the intellect comes to play and you take decisions that will affect the populace positively. I see the prosperity ahead and I feel a sense of pride. That today, we are industrializing with visible factories and companies already employing our teeming youths. So, I cannot achieve this by sitting down in an air conditioned office, I must move to the field.”

    This is not the story from my beloved Katsina State, in spite of the huge resources wasted at convening an economic and investment summit held at the conference hall, Katsina State secretariat complex, Katsina on May 10, 2016, where various recommendations were made by intellectuals and captains of industries on economic roadmaps aimed at tapping and unlocking the wealth in the state and resource endorsements. One of the presenters, a brilliant Ivy League economist, had in a forlorn hope, wished that the conclusions reached at the summit could be used “to close the observed policy gaps”. This was our silent prayers, too.

    However, the state of recent is characterized by banditry and an army of unemployed youth. Ayade succeeded because of his vision, drive and tenacity. He has at his disposal a competent team to help him pilot the affairs of the state. In Katsina State, today, complacency, despondency and crass opportunism have taken over a once vibrant, hospitable and peace loving people. This cannot be unconnected with the manipulative and divisive ideologues that have taken over the religious and political space in the state.

    The question still remains, when will my state be availed with a progressive and transformational leader like Professor Ben Ayade, who represents the hope of my generation?

    • Ibrahim Sani, Kofarbai, Katsina.

  • Killings: Military chiefs storm Katsina on Buhari’s order

    A DELEGATION of military chiefs led by Maj.-Gen. B.I. Ahanotu yesterday arrived in Katsina to assess the escalation of killings by bandits and to map out strategies aimed at putting a stop to banditry and kidnapping as ordered by President Muhammad Buhari last Wednesday.

    Gen.  Ahanotu told the Deputy Governor, Manir Yakubu, who stood in for Governor Aminu Bello Masari, that they were sent by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin and the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai, to assess the attacks by bandits in the state, particularly the killings in Batsari and other local government areas.

    The General added that they were visiting to commiserate with the government and people and to reiterate the commitment of security agencies to security of lives and property

    The deputy governor lamented that Katsina is in a state of mourning because of incessant attacks by bandits, kidnappers and other security challenges.

    He thanked the President for responding to the distress call from the state, saying the citizens were happy that the President wasted no time in sending an assessment team, especially after receiving a briefing from the governor on Wednesday.

    He said: “When we came to power, we did introduce several initiatives aimed at improving security in the state. But Katsina is not an island, it shares border with neighbouring states. So, the relative peace we often enjoyed is severely jeopardised.

    “Certainly, there is a great and urgent need for a quick solution to our predicament and to bring peace to the state.

    “Rainy season is here and our people are warming up to go back to the farms.

    “Again, the Rugu forest may not be accessible again due to heavy rainfall.”

    Yakubu assured the military delegation of state government’s support and assistance to ensure a quick job is done and that peace is restored.

    But, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Abba Abdullah, yesterday dismissed fears about impending food scarcity in the state as being expressed in several quarters due to the incessant banditry attacks which is accompanied by the burning of farmlands and sacking of farmers, particularly in the rural communities of the state.

    In an interview with The Nation, Abdullah said it was too early to express such fears, considering the fact that only two of the 34 local government areas namely: Batsari and Danmusa were the worst hit by the banditry attacks.

    He said: “You can’t say that the situation which is presently obtainable in Batsari and Danmusa is capable of creating food scarcity or supply in the state. It is difficult to predict at this stage. May be if the situation persists, yes. But, as it seems now, several strategic security measures are being put in place to address the insecurity challenges in the state, especially with the Wednesday’s directive of Mr. President to the IGP and CGS on Katsina killings.

    ‘’May be we may experience brief shortages in supply as a result but not outright food scarcity.’’

     

  • Katsina council loses confidence in police over insecurity

    Katsari Local Government Area, one of the eight frontline Local Government Areas of Katsina State, yesterday declared that it no longer has faith in the ability of the police and other security agencies to contain the onslaught by bandits.

    It has, therefore, announced plans to mobilise its people and other self-help efforts towards ensuring security in the area.

    The council borders Zamfara State, which is being troubled by kidnapping and banditry,

    Alhaji Mannir Muazu Rumah, the Council Transition Committee Chairman, who identified the peaceful protest by his people as demonstration of lack of confidence in the police, spoke to reporters while reacting to the worsening security situation in the area

    He noted that the security situation was beyond the capability of the security agencies, including the police.

    Rumah  added that the council is planning to mobilise the people to join hands with it to ensure that everyone in the area sleeps with his or her two eyes closed.

    Read also: Bandits abduct four month old baby, seven others in Zamfara

    He said: “The security structures mounted by the various agencies and the police in the area are not working, as attacks have persisted unabated.

    “You can imagine that the IGP’s Operation Puff Arder is strategically located at this local government headquarters, and yet it does nothing to reduce the crime. The men are neither flexible nor mobile, and hardly arrive promptly to the scene of crime or attend to distress calls.

    He expressed fear of a looming food scarcity in the state if the situation is left unchecked as farmers refused not cultivate their farmlands over growing insecurity

    The council boss also called on the people of the area to intensify prayers for God to intervene in addressing the menace.