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Tag: Katsina

  • NFVCB partners Future Assured on media literacy in Katsina

    TO underscore the need to empower young people on best practices and the imperative for classification of films towards promoting critical thinking and best morals amongst Nigerians, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) was in a “Collaborative Workshop for Youth Empowerment Programme” with FUTURE Assured.

    Themed, “Media Literacy and Capacity Building on Youth Protection through Critical Thinking”, the workshop held on Tuesday at the Aliyu Kabir Maska Hall Katsina State Local Government Service Commission.

    The wife of the president and founder of Future Assured Initiative, Dr. Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Dr. Mrs. Zakiyya Masari, wife of the Katsina State governor lauded the objective of the Board, hoped that the effort will reach all parts of the country and encouraged the Board to ensure that films are not used as an avenue to destroy the nation’s culture and traditions, stating that the “preponderance of violent crimes like robbery, kidnapping, banditry have all been linked to films.”

    Mrs. Buhari also admonished the recipients of the financial empowerment initiative, who additionally received mobile phones and other souvenirs, to “justify the confidence reposed in them by reporting cases of violations and unwholesome activities by unscrupulous people.”

    On her part, Mrs. Zakiyya Masari undertook to collaborate with NFVCB on her pet project, the BIMA Foundation, a women, youths and children empowerment initiative, in order to create more empowerment opportunities for the captured demographic.

    The Katsina governor who was represented by Hajia Dr. Talatu Nasir, Permanent Secretary Sustainable Development Goals, pledged the state’s commitment to the establishment of Katsina State Film and Video Censors Board to support the country’s burgeoning film industry, preserve and protect the cultural and moral values, create more jobs, boost state revenue base and project the cultural values of the state on the international sphere as proposed by censors board.

    In his opening remarks, Adedayo Thomas noted that “the youths need protection from harmful media contents. These days, we have influx of harmful and unsubstantiated contents, ranging from fake news, hate speech to unwholesome films and videos circulating on online channels and social media. It is therefore desirable for everyone to be intentionally critical of media contents exposed to in order not to be caught in the web of harmful and destructive materials.”

  • Katsina Commissioner of Police relocates to Daura

    The Commissioner of Police in charge of Katsina State Command, CP Sanusi Buba has relocated to Daura.

    The relocation is aimed at rescuing the District head of Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar, who was recently kidnapped.

    The Police said the CP’s relocation would aid in the coordination and investigatiion of security operations.

    The Police, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba said, efforts were on to subdue criminal gangs across the country.

    According to him: “Currently, there are massive strategic security operations, both covert and overt missions, taking place at different parts of the country, including Katsina aimed at subduing the criminal gangs and restoring sanity to the land.

    “However, because of the covert and sensitive nature of these operations, I will not discuss them for now but Nigerians should be assured that the entire Law Enforcement and Intelligence community in Nigeria will not rest until we win the battle against crimes and criminality in Nigeria.”

  • Seven notable legacies of late President Musa Yar’Adua

    Exactly nine years ago, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua breathed his last. The Katsina-born died after suffering from Pericarditis.

    Despite the many intrigues that trailed his sickness and eventual death, Yar’Adua is still well respected and acknowledged for many changes in the nation’s polity. This is despite the fact that he was in office for just three years.

    Below are some of the changes he made for which he remains beloved:

    • Reduction of fuel pump price. Yar-Adua is the first Nigerian leader to carry out downward reverse of hike in fuel pump price. As soon as he was inaugurated on May 29, 2007, one of his first actions was to reduce fuel price from N75 to N65. This act was widely praised by Nigerians.
    • Niger Delta Amnesty Programme. The former Katsina State Governor initiated the Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme which saw hundreds of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta empowered. This was contrary to the popular notion that he would clamp down on the restive youths who were blowing oil installations for their grievances. The programme was well-received and doused tensions in the region, thereby shoring up oil production with many of the ex-agitators rehabilitated.
    • Abuja-Kaduna rail route. Though he never lived to see its completion, Yar’Adua initiated the Abuja-Kaduna rail route. Thankfully, President Muhammadu Buhari went on to commission the project in July 2016.
    • New Minimum wage. Workers would remember the late President for initiating the move that led to the N18,000 wage on February 22, 2011 when the Senate approve the new wage. It was Yar’Adua who inaugurated the Presidential Committee on National Minimum Wage headed by Chief Justice Alfa Moddibo through the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed. The new wage was approved by his successor President Goodluck Jonathan following recommendations of the committee.
    • Dredging of River Niger. After 40 years, Yar’Adua recommended the dredging of the River Niger, which he couldn’t sadly see through until his demise.
    • Declaration of Assets. He had the honour of being the first Nigerian leader to declare his assets. He declared he had ₦856,452,892 (US$5.8 million) in assets, ₦19 million ($0.1 million) of which belonged to his wife. He also had ₦88,793,269.77 ($0.5 million) in liabilities. His plan, clearly, was to set a good example for public office holders and discourage corruption.
    • Release of Lagos councils’ funds. For almost four years, former President Olusegun Obasanjo refused to release federal allocations to Lagos state, claiming the creation of 37 Local Council Development Authority(LCDAs) by former Governor Bola Tinubu was a misnomer. But Yar’Adua, within months of assumption of power, reversed the widely criticized presidential order and released all the withheld allocations, running into billions, to Lagos.

     

  • Kidnapping: Police arrest 40 suspects, rescue kidnap victims in Katsina

    The newly launched “operation puff adder,” by the Inspector general of Police, Mohammed Abubakar to rid the North Western states of kidnapping and banditry activities appeared to be yielding quick results as the Katsina State Command Wednesday evening paraded about 40 criminals arrested for various offences ranging from kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery, rituals and supplying of logistics to perpetrate criminality in the 8 front line local government areas of the State

    The State Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba while parading the criminals and some of the rescued victims before newsmen at the State headquarters of the Force said the success recorded was as a result of intelligence lead policing, increased visibility policing, Community based policing approach and the synergy with sister security agencies as exemplified through operation Puff adder

    He said ’’with the help of God and the relentless effort of my officers and men I am happy to present the successes recorded by the Katsina State Police command’’

    ‘’On assumption of duty two months ago, I assured the people of the state of their safety, peace and security. I also warned criminal elements to desist from criminality or leave the state because the command under my watch will have zero tolerance for criminality’’

    Amongst those arrested and paraded alongside their weapons which included AK-47 and other ammunitions, were a 7-man-gang of kidnappers terrorizing Safana, and Basari LGAs.

    They were arrested when they kidnapped Hajia Habiba aged 65 years from Yar-Liyau village in Kurfi local government area, where they demanded the payment of N15m for her release

    According to the CP, other exhibits recovered from the gang included two motorcycles, two machetes, and cash amounting to N218, 000

    The Commissioner also paraded those supplying logistics such as fuel, motorcycles, and repairing the arms used by the kidnappers. One Alhaji Sale Musa, 55 years, of Wagini village in Batsari was arrested with 28 jerry cans of fuel loaded in a Toyota truck trying to cross the notorious Rugu forest bordering Zamfara. On Police interrogation he confessed being supplied fuel by a manager in one of the Filling stations in Batagarawa Local Government area

    The CP who promised to be updating newsmen on the activities of the Operations going in the frontline local Government areas, said investigations are still ongoing on those paraded and that more arrests will be made. He however assured that they will be charged to court at the end of the investigations

  • Banditry: Katsina donates 12 vehicles to Police

    As part of measures to tackle armed bandits and other violent criminal elements currently terrorizing Katsina state, the state government on Wednesday donated 12 vehicles to the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu who said the present security challenges could be won, directed the men of the Police Special Forces and other Tactical Units currently deployed in Katsina State to deal decisively with those terrorizing innocent citizens in the State.

    The Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba in statement in Abuja said the IGP gave the charge on Wednesday while addressing the combined Teams of Police Operatives at the Katsina Police Command Headquarters in continuation of his operational tour of the North Central and North Western States.

    The IGP while admitting the obvious security challenges facing the nation at different fronts, insisted that the security challenges are not insurmountable.

    Read Also: IGP vows to smoke out bandits and kidnappers

    He also assured that everything humanly and operationally possible is being done towards bringing a permanent end to incidences of armed banditry and other crimes in the country.

    The IGP had earlier paid a courtesy call on Katsina Governor, Aminu Masari, where he sought his support in the renewed fight against criminal elements.

    Responding, Masari who was represented by his Deputy, Alh. Mannir Yakubu, pledged full support of the State Government and the Citizens to ‘Operation Puff Adder’ and other security initiatives of the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Operation also got a boost in its operational asset as the State Government made a donation of 12 Toyota Hilux vans to the Police in the aid of the mission.

    Mba also stated that the IGP also visited the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, where he sought his cooperation and other traditional authorities in the fight against criminals.

  • Breaking: Seven JTF members dead in clash with bandits

    No fewer than seven parsons were feared dead during a clash involving Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) and some bandits in Tsamiyar Jino village in kankara local government area of Katsina state

    Confirming the incident, spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command, Superintendent Gambo Isa, told newsmen on Tuesday that 35 persons didn’t die as erroneously stated in many social media posts.

    He further disclosed the Civilian JTF popularly known as Yansakai (volunteers) went into the forest to fight the bandits against the warnings of Police not to do so.

    Read Also: Updated: Fire razes Katsina varsity

    He said the bandits overpowered them because of possession of superior weapons and vast knowledge of the terrain better than the JTF.

    The police chief assured that the newly deployed IGP special squad against banditry and kidnapping in the state will soon catch up with the bandits and smoke them out.

  • Kidnapping: Police deploy IGP squad in 8 troubled Katsina LGs

    The Katsina State Police command on Monday announced the deployment of the IGP special squad drawn from Police Mobile Force Units, Counter Terrorism Unit, IGP Special Tactical Squad, Explosive Ordinance Department and Anti Robbery Squad and the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team, under operation ‘’Puff Adda’’, to the 8 frontline local Government Areas mostly afflicted by criminal activities in Katsina State

    The State Commissioner of Police, Sanusi Buba told newsmen that the anti-kidnapping squad will be strategically deployed in three critical units along the affected Local government’s corridor, with each unit focusing on three local government areas at a time to tackle the menace of criminality in the areas

    He further disclosed that the squad went through specialized training, facilitated by the International Peacekeeping Training team from the Force Headquarters in Abuja and were expected to engage and arrest suspected bandits, kidnappers and cattle Rustlers and also to respond to distress calls along the routes.

    He said ’’I am appealing to the members of the general public to support and partner with the Nigerian Police force by providing credible information that will lead to the arrest of suspected persons in connection with these heinous crimes’’

    To those aiding and abetting criminality in the affected Local Government Areas, he charged them to desist or be ready to face the wrath of the law

    ‘’I wish to also warn persons within the communities aiding and abetting the bandits by way of information or provision of logistics like fuel and food items to desist from such unwholesome practices’’ he said.

    Read Also: Police kill three bandits in fresh Kaduna village attack

    The State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, commended the Inspector General of Police for the initiative and assured that the State Government will do all it can to provide the needed operational logistics within its budgetary limits to ensure the success of the venture

    He said’ kidnapping and banditry in the state has suddenly turned a thorn in the flesh to the inhabitants of the state, and we will do all that we can and are ready to cooperate with the Police’’

    ‘’government will provide all needed logistics and whatever it takes, the government is ready to tackle the challenge in the state’’

    He warned the team to effectively patrol the length and breadth of the affected local government areas to make their presence felt by the communities rather than staying in one location

  • 19 killed, 38 injured in Katsina road accident

    The Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) has confirmed that no fewer than 19 persons died and 38 persons injured in a ghastly road accident on Daudawa-Funtua road in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Mr Godwin Ngeuku, made the confirmation to newsmen on Friday in Katsina.

    He said that incident happened on Friday morning at Daudawa, few kilometres to Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State involving a Mitsubishi canter vehicle.

    The sector commander said that the driver suddenly lost control of the vehicle while speeding, thereby skidded up the road, somersaulted and killed some passengers instantly.

    He said that the vehicle, with registration number DKA 654 ZP, was on its way to Sokoto axis with about 57 passengers when the incident occurred.

    Read Also: FRSC advises passengers to caution reckless drivers

    The sector commander said that FRSC rescue team immediately rushed to the scene of the accident and took the injured persons to Funtua General Hospital for medical attention and evacuated the corpses.

    Ngueku urged drivers to desist from overloading, speeding and continue to abide by the traffic rules and regulations as part of measures to avert crashes on the highways.

    The Chairman of Funtua Local Government Area, Malam Lawal Sani, who expressed sadness.

  • Army set to flush out bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina

    THE Army 8 Division is set to conduct an internal security-based exercise, code named: “Ex Harbin Kunama IV” in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

    The exercise, which aimed at flushing out armed bandits and insurgents groups from identified forest areas and strongholds, is scheduled to hold from April 1 to June 30, 2019.

    Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the division, Major Clement Abiade, stated in a statement through WhatsApp that the aim of the exercise “is also to bolster the confidence of the people of the region to go about their daily lives unhindered under the security umbrella of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

    Members of the public, according to the statement, were advised not to panic on seeing increased movement of troops, armoured vehicles, equipment and sound of firing arms in the designated exercise and operation areas.

    Read also: We have recorded success against Boko Haram – Army

    Major Abiade added that necessary control measures were already put in place to ensure that no one is harm as a result of the exercise.

    Consequently, a news conference in this regard comes up today at 1 Brigade Conference Hall, (former Government Quarters), off JB Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau, Zamfara State by 1.30pm.

  • Police confirm release of abducted cleric, others in Katsina

    The Police in Katsina State have confirmed the release of the Kano-based cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Suleiman and five other persons, abducted in Katsina State 12 days ago.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Gambo Isa, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Katsina.

    He disclosed that Suleiman, a renowned Qur’anic reciter, and other victims, were released at about 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Why police remain ineffective, by IGP

    Isa said that the victims communicated to their relatives and were later evacuated by the police and reunited with their families.

    The police spokesman said that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers before their release.

    It would be recalled that the cleric and other victims were kidnapped 12 days ago along Sheme to Kankara road, on their way back to Kano State, after attending a religious activity in Kebbi State.