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Tag: Katsina

  • Buhari expected in Katsina for APC grand rally Thursday

    President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the APC Presidential Campaign Team are expected to storm Katsina on Thursday for the Grand Finale of the nationwide Campaigns which kicked off Late December last year in Uyo Akwa Ibom state.

    The Secretary to the Katsina State Government and Chairman Katsina State APC Council, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, who made the above disclosure on Wednesday during a stakeholders meeting called to appraise preparations for the rally at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential loge in Katsina, said Preparations are being finalized to ensure a hitch-free reception to the President and his entourage

    He reiterated the assurances by the state to deliver 2.8m votes to the President in Saturday’s elections and expressed optimism that President Buhari will be re-elected on Saturday, February 16

    He said’’ the stage is set to receive Mr. President, every arrangement have been concluded including logistics and security, some of the citizens living far away from the city center have already started arriving and are prepared to spend the night at the stadium which will be flung open as early as 6am’’

    Meanwhile Ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibiu, led group, Forward for Buhari, has embarked on street-to-street campaign in Katsina State for the APC Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking to newsmen shortly before flagging off the street to street campaign, Shuaibu urged the people of the state to vote not only for the President but all the candidates of the ruling party as they have been tested and trusted to serve them very well.

    He said the campaign train which has renowned author, Mohammed Sule; one time national chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdukarim Dayyabu, among its top dignitaries, stormed Katsina Street since Monday with scores of grassroots mobilizers in several buses.

    While lauding Governor Aminu Bello Masari for graciously accepting to use the machinery of youths’ mobilization in the state to support the purpose of the visit, the APC boss maintained that the group believed the nation could go forward to the next level under Buhari’s presidency.

    Read Also: Buhari, Atiku, others sign second 2019 National Peace Accord

    Shuaibu said: “We move with youths, we meet people, we talk to them at motor parks, in the markets and on the streets. We sample their opinions with regards to re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari. And we also embark on voter education because one of our mandates is to insist that as long as you love Muhammadu Buhari, as long as you want to vote for Muhammadu Buhari, then you have to vote Muhammadu Buhari’s party from to down.”

    According to him, they will also embark on issues of enlightening voters on the laudable projects, both on-going and completed, of Buhari administration.

  • Atiku campaigns in Katsina, promises jobs, security

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubabar, has promised the people of Katsina State job creation and security of lives and property if elected President.

    Sparking at the party’s presidential campaign rally on Thursday, Atiku said he would not lie to the people the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) did during the 2015 electioneering campaign.

    He said, “Now let me promise you all, everyone knows any promise I make, I fulfill them. My first promise is that I will return peace to Katisna by God’s grace. Secondly, our youths that are jobless, by God’s grace, they will get jobs. Once we create jobs, is that not the end of hunger?

    “Let me remind you all; be careful with the APC. Since about three and half years, they came to lie to you all. They said they will create wealth and improve the economy. Have they created wealth? Is the economy better now? They said they will solve the security challenges, have solved insecurity?”.

    Atiku urged the youth population to actively participate in the upcoming elections, saying he and others in the PDP were there to mentor them.

    “What I want to tell you all is that, this election is for the youths. As for us, we will only show you the way, we are done with ours. Once you vote, be patient for them to count and announce the results. Don’t let them cheat you, the vote is yours not for anyone else”.

    The PDP candidate restated his admonishment to the military, police and other security agencies to ensure peace during the polls and not to allow themselves to be used to manipulate election results.

    Read Also; Kano ready for Atiku, says PDP chair

    The national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who also addressed the rally, urged to people to vote for PDP in order to chase joblessness, insecurity and hunger away from the land.

    According to him, Atiku remained the only candidate that has the capacity and competence to get the country working again, adding that the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has failed the country.

    Secondus said, “You know the APC government, they are confused. They are worried and they are adopting all sorts of measures to make sure that they rig this election. But you know APC, their plan is to destabilise this nation.

    “Their plan is to kill and to harm. This was the statement that came out from Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, that there will be body bags.

    “But let me remind him and other leaders of the APC that in 2015, the same el-Rufai and other leaders of APC travelled several times to the United States, to United Kingdom and brought in consultants and international observers that came and witnessed that election”.

    The party chair described Atiku as a symbol of unity and urged the people to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the general elections.

    He called on them to vote and to also defend their votes, to ensure that they are not shortchanged by compromised officials and security personnel.

  • IDPs hunger protest: House Committee demands sanctions for officials

    The House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ), Refugees and North-East Initiatives on Wednesday faulted the recourse to teargas to disperse protesting hungry lDPs at Teachers Village camp in Maiduguri.

    It asked the Federal Government to intervene by ensuring immediate supply of the desperately needed food items by the displaced persons.

    It also demanded sanctions for the perpetrators and beneficiaries of the inhumane crime.

    It said the committee is ready to share vital information capable of fishing out the culprits no matter how highly placed.

    It, however, expressed regrets that 32,000 IDPs have crossed over to Cameroon between Mid-December 2018 and 31 January, 2019.

    The committee, in a statement by its chairman, Muhammed Sani Zorro, said massive consignments of these food and non-food items procured with state resources are either at varying stages of expiration or being shared (in the open) to highly-placed politicians for use as campaign tools.

    The statement said: “The House of Representatives Committee on IDPs, Refugees and North-East Initiatives wishes to express sadness over yesterday’s protest by Internally Displaced Persons (lDPs) at Teachers Village camp in Maiduguri, and the needless resort to the use of tear gas to disperse them by the police.

    “It is on record that the authorities concerned have continued to deprive the starving and desperate IDPs of food and non-food Items whose everyday complaints, pleas, and outcries only fell on the deaf ears of insensitive officials charged with their care.

    “Sadly, massive consignments of these food and nonfood items procured with state resources are now either at varying stages of expiration, or are being shared (in the open) to highly-placed politicians for use as campaign tools in the countdown to our general elections.

    “Evidence also abound of the age-old diversion and illegal sale of humanitarian assistance items in the open market. This is evil at its best, reprehensible and unacceptable to all men and women of conscience.”

    The committee appealed to the Federal Government to ensure immediate supply of food and essential items to the IDPs.

    Read Also: 2019: IDPs won’t vote in Niger – INEC

    The statement added: “The Committee urges the Federal Government to act as a matter of supreme urgency by ensuring immediate supply of the desperately needed items without further delay and punish the perpetrators and beneficiaries of the inhumane crime.

    “As part of its oversight functions, the committee is willing and ready to share vital information capable of fishing out the culprits no matter how highly placed.

    On the general election, it pleaded with the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the IDPs to vote wherever they are.

    “Such flexibility should be extended to affected victims in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and any other state(s),” the committee pleaded.

  • Troops kill 21 bandits, capture 17 in Zamfara, Katsina

    Troops of Operation Sharan Daji have between Jan. 22 and Jan. 28 neutralised 21 bandits, captured 17 and rescued 89 persons taken hostage by the bandits in Zamfara and Katsina States.

    Giving an update on the operation in a statement on Tuesday, Maj. Clement Abiade, the Acting Force Information Officer, Operation Sharan Daji, said 55 of the freed captives were held captives in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara.

    Abiade said they had been debriefed and reunited with their families, adding that most of them are from communities in Zamfara.

    He also disclosed that two bandits’ informants, Musa Amadu and Auwalu Mutairu, were arrested at Danfumi village in Birnin Magaji and were currently assisting troops with intelligence.

    “It is significant to inform the general public that 11 civilians and one vigilante were killed by bandits during the period in focus.

    Read Also: Troops neutrilise four terrorists in Borno

    “It is also important to state that six persons were kidnapped at Asoula village in Tsafe Local Government Area and not in Birnin Magaji as reported by some media houses,” he said.

    The information officer said during the period under review, one single barrel gun, two locally made pistols and 20 cartridges of double barrel bullets were recovered from the bandits.

    He listed other recovered arms as 60 rounds of 7.62mm, special one AK-47 magazine containing 18 Rounds of 7.62mm special, two dane guns, four motorcycles and large quantity of Indian hemp and illicit drugs.

    “The operation is designed to identify and destroy bandits’ camps/enclaves,’’ he said.

  • Troops neutralise 58 bandits, rescue 78

    The Nigerian Army announced on Wednesday that no fewer than 58 bandits have been killed by troops in clearance operations within Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara axis, while 78 victims of kidnapping were rescued.

    It added that 18 camps of the bandits operating in different forests within the area were destroyed by troops of Operation Sharan Daji. Arms and ammunition were also recovered from them within the period of the operations.

    However, two soldiers and two members of vigilante group lost their lives during the encounter.

    A statement signed by the Acting Force Information Officer for Operation Sharan Daji, Major Clement Abiade, added that 8 soldiers and 6 vigilante members were wounded during the clearance operations.

    Major Abiade said: ” In line with the mandate of operation SHARAN DAJI, troops commenced clearance operations into bandits enclaves in Zamfara State and Katsina on 19 January 2019 and to last up till June 2019. The operation is being conducted simultaneously in collaboration with all security agencies and local vigilante to achieve synergy. The current offensive is designed to identify and destroy bandits’ camps/enclaves in the area of operation.

    “Already, the operation has recorded some successes. On 20 January 2019, troops came into contact with a large gang of bandits armed with sophisticated firearms and Rocket Propelled grenades at Dumburum and Gando forests leading to fierce gun battles which lasted several hours. The bandits were forced to abandon their camps due to superior firepower during these encounters.

    “The items recovered from the bandits include 5 Fabric National Rifles, 4 AK 47 Rifles, 10 locally made rifles, 1 locally fabricated pistol and 40 motorcycles.

    “The casualty figures on the bandits’ side were 58 bandits neutralized, while one was captured alive. Troops also destroyed 18 camps and rescued 75 kidnapped victims held in some of these camps. The freed captives who were mostly from local communities in Zamfara State were debriefed and reunited with their families.

    “Unfortunately, Operation SHARAN DAJI also suffered some casualties in these encounters. So far, two gallant soldiers and 2 members of the vigilante paid the supreme prize. A total of 8 soldiers and 6 vigilantes also sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe

    “Those who sustained injuries were immediately evacuated to Federal Medical Centre, Gusau for medical treatment, while those with life-threatening conditions were evacuated by air for specialist attention outside the theatre of operation. The families of the fallen heroes have been contacted accordingly, while the deceased members of the vigilante were laid to rest in Anka Cemetery according to Islamic rites.

    ” The Force Commander, Operation SHARAN DAJI, Maj Gen SO Olabanji commiserate with families of the fallen heroes and assures them that their sacrifices will not be in vain. He reaffirms the commitment of operation SHARAN DAJI to rid Zamfara State of all forms of banditry and criminality in line with its mandate.

    “Therefore, the general public is enjoined to cooperate with troops and furnish security agencies with useful and timely information about bandits’ activities within their domain.“

  • Borno, Zamfara, Katsina and their leitmotifs

    NO part of Nigeria is immune to the ongoing rampage of anarchists, but in the past few weeks, the stories about violent bandits and rebels relentlessly practicing their sorceries on Borno, Zamfara and Katsina States have become dizzying and astonishing. The governors themselves have reacted quaintly to the sorceries to the point of becoming news in their own right, with the Borno governor weeping, Zamfara governor expressing surrender, and Katsina governor sounding despondent. All in the past two, three weeks.

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State visited Aso Villa last Monday to confer with President Muhammadu Buhari on the insurgency convulsing his state, and insurgents putting soldiers to flight in a few notable battles publicised embarrassingly far beyond their strategic import. “Our hopes are very much alive and they are very high,” began the governor obliquely. “We came with some observation and 10 requests for urgent presidential intervention. These observations and requests are products of discussion in the aftermath of our extraordinary security meeting held one week ago. We didn’t rush to come after the meeting. We felt the need to travel to northern Borno, interact with displaced persons and the military so as to strengthen public confidence.” He warned of impending military and social disaster if the battle was not taken to the insurgents with extra vigour.

    Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State feels even more terribly beleaguered. Accused of indifference, or at worst, incompetence, over the rampant activities of bandits in his state, the governor has abandoned his complacency and defensiveness, and has since embraced every measure anyone could propose, sensible or otherwise. A few weeks ago, a group of academics, in desperation, suggested the proclamation of a state of emergency in Zamfara, perhaps believing the suggested panacea was so extreme that it was bound to be controversial. But not only did the public receive the suggestion well, despite the embedded constitutional flaws, even the governor who should be conversant with the provisions of the constitution simply abandoned all pretexts and whooped for emergency. He failed to differentiate between a state of emergency and emergency rule.

    Still reeling from the nefarious activities of the bandits that have made whole sections of the state unsafe to live in or travel through, the governor even went as far as suggesting that he would gladly relinquish office if that would bring peace to the state. He was perhaps reacting more to the allegations of incompetence levelled against him than the failure of governance or the slow and inadequate response of the security and law enforcement agencies. The government has deployed troops in the state hoping that their presence would stop the flow of blood. The bandits, going by the last reports available, do not appear to be impressed by the deployment.

    The case of Katsina, the president’s home state, is even more dire and symptomatic of the national malaise that has overtaken the country. The governor, Aminu Masari, was too burdened by the attacks to which his state has been subjected in the past few months that he wailed for the federal government to do something about the problem. Said he when he convened a state security council meeting on January 3, 2019: “…No one, not even myself, is safe…So, this is the situation and that is why we are here to find a way out, which is a must. There is no option because we are thinking of the survival of our people and state. The citizens are on a daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers on rampage in the state. The Katsina Government organised this one-day joint security and stakeholders meeting to proffer solutions to the state’s current insecurity challenge. Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, results in the killing of their victims. The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened. Our state is in a dangerous situation. Travellers are afraid of being stopped on the highway and arrested by kidnappers who demand ransom.”

    The leitmotifs ignored in all the dire reports are that the country’s present structure is simply unworkable, the people’s socio-economic conditions have deteriorated precipitously, and the security architecture is completely outdated. These situations call for radical but nuanced and intelligent responses. Instead, the federal government is preoccupied with military, strong-arm approach only. But this approach has proved essentially ineffective or at best partially successful. So far, too, there is no holistic approach to a problem that has become multifaceted, multidimensional and unresponsive to all the panaceas the government has thrown at it. It is urgent for the government to change tack. Except that is done, the situation may very well deteriorate to the point of uncontrollability, especially considering that no state is spared the insecurity tragedy unfolding over the country.

  • 2019 polls: Katsina battles security challenges

    In Katsina state of northwestern Nigeria, insecurity has emerged as the major threat to next month’s general election. Unless something drastic is done to stem the growing tide of violent attacks across the state, the 2019 general election may be badly affected, reports Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor and Augustine Okezie in Katsina.

    CURRENTLY, not less than eight local government areas of Katsina state are at the mercy of bandits, kidnappers and other criminals that have been threatening the security of life and properties in the northwestern state for months now. Sources across the state says the situation is so bad today that residents of the affected areas rarely leave the confines of their homes for fear of being bobbed, abducted or killed.

    The Nation further learnt that concerns are already being expressed in many quarters across the state over the possible effect of the worrisome state of security on the forthcoming general election. According to reliable sources, chieftains of both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been speaking about the security challenges as the elections approach.

    “Even the state government and traditional rulers are expressing concerns over the development. It is left to be seen how a peaceful election can be held in an atmosphere of utter insecurity. This is not about politics, it is about ensuring that the people feel safe before asking them to go and vote. Across party divides, the people of Katsina are calling for urgent help in this regard,” a source said.

    Speaking on the frightening security situation in the state, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chairman of a 10 man Security Committee set up last week by Governor Aminu Bello Masariafter an an extra-ordinary security meeting with security chiefs and other stakeholders, told newsmen at a briefing in his office that movement of personnel and materials to especially the affected frontline state s will be hampered by insecurity.

    He further listed the affected Local Government Areas to include Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dandume, Faskari, Sabwa and Kafur. He said “certainly the security situation will threaten the general elections especially in those affected local government areas because if you post personnel to the affected area, they may refuse to go there out of fear of their safety.’’

    He explained that most of the affected local government areas are locoed along the state’s border with Zamfara state. “We all know that Zamfara has been battling banditry and other vices for a while now. Many of these criminals being smoked out of Zamfara by the military and police operations going on therein are finding their ways into Katsina state through these border towns.

    “It is as a result of the failure of government to pre-empt this situation and prepare ahead that we now have this crisis on our hands. Katsina is a peaceful place and the current state government places a lot of emphasis on security of lives and properties. But the situation today requires help from higher quarters and it has to be urgently done so that the elections are not hampered by insecurity,” Abdulkadir Tsiga, state co-ordinator of Voters’ Right Agenda (VRA) told The Nation.

     

    Helpless govt

    Unable to keep quiet over the serious nature of the security challenges confronting it across the state, the Katsina State Government admitted that the present state of insecurity which has gripped the state may affect the conduct of a peaceful general election in the state if not properly tackled by a combined synergy of actions involving security agencies in the state through ground and air operations.

    Explaining the magnitude of the crisis on the government’s hand, Inuwa outlined several emergency measures already taken by the Masari-led administration to include reaching out for cooperation with neighboring states like Kaduna, Zamfara and Kano states, clearing the forests located especially within the urban centers which he said have become hide-outs for criminals, embarking on awareness campaign amongst inhabitants of the rural areas through traditional rulers and district heads as well as equipping security agencies.

    He said the state government also requested that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris should make available Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) and related equipment to police personnel in the state to enable them deal with the rising cases of kidnappings, banditry and cattle rustling in some parts of the state. “We discovered that the lack of synergy between the police, military and other security agencies in the state was responsible for the rise in cases of kidnappings, banditry and cattle rustling especially in council areas sharing border with the Rugu forest,” he added.

    The Nation recalled that Governor Masari had during an extra-ordinary security meeting that comprised of security chiefs and other stakeholders lamented the rise in insecurity, adding that security reports showed that one or more of the mentioned crimes were perpetuated in some parts of the state on a daily basis.    On the issue of Cattle rustling, Inuwa said government was considering the possibility of carrying out an enumeration of cattles and their owner in the affected areas.

    Earleir, citing increasing cases of armed banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling committed in parts of the state by suspected gunmen, Governor Masari had raised alarm that the state was under siege. The governor, speaking during a crucial meeting of security chiefs, traditional rulers and acting chairmen of local governments among others critical stakeholders, revealed that intelligence reports  available indicated growing cases of the menace of suspected bandits.

    He disclosed that urgent steps had to be taken at the meeting on the way out of the dangerous security threats facing the state which borders troubled communities in Zamfara State. He maintained that the prevailing situation was a serious threat to survival of the people of the state, adding that it is the responsibility of government and those steering the security apparatus to protect the lives and property of all.

    Masari stressed the need for collective efforts in addressing the challenges for the improved socio-economic activities in the state, while calling on Katsina citizens to assist security agencies with useful information to effectively tackle the situation. He equally solicited continuous prayers for God‘s intervention to overcome the security challenges facing the state and the nation.

    “No one, not even myself, is safe. So, this is the situation and that is why we are here to find a way out, which is a must. There is no option because we are thinking of the survival of our people and state. It is now a daily occurrence as no day passes without a case recorded. It is not even rustling of cows but now kidnapping of people. “Our state is currently under serious siege by armed robbers, kidnappers and armed bandits who arrest rural people at the grassroots at will and demand ransom, which if not paid, they kill their victims.

    “The Permanent Secretary was just informing me that his close relative was kidnapped and a ransom of N5 million was demanded and the person who took the money to them was shot. Some people visited me, and as they left, they were trailed and robbed of their belongings. The armed robbers could not go away with the vehicle because it has security lock on it. In the past, they carried out their activities in the middle of the night, but now, they operate at midnight, 10pm and gradually in broad day light.

    “It is not up to a month, right here in front of  Government House, five electricity poles were carted away. It is getting out of hand that we should not fold our arms. Let’s return to God, let’s pray to Him to salvage the situation.  So we must reach a lasting solution at this meeting to curtail this ugly trend.

    “The citizens are on daily basis being harassed by bandits and kidnappers that are on rampage in the state. The Katsina government organised this one-day joint security and stakeholders meeting to proffer solutions to the state’s current insecurity challenge. The people of Katsina in the 34 local governments now sleep with one eye closed and the other opened,” the Governor lamented.

     

    Help coming?

    As the government and other stakeholders continue to cry for help in tackling the insecurity challenges currently suffocating the state, Tsiga says Katsina state should be specially considered by the military “as it plans its strategic involvement in the security of the nation during the general election.” The pro-democracy activists says there can be no free and fair election without adequate security of lives during elections.

    It would be recalled that last December, the Nigerian Army says it will conduct exercise “Egwu Eke III – Python Dance” nationwide, to tackle already “observed upsurge’’ in security challenges as the 2019 general elections draw nearer. According to the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who announced this at a news conference in Maiduguri, the exercise will be conducted from January 1 to February 28, 2019.

    Represented by Lamidi Adeosun, the Chief of Training and Operations, Mr. Buratai, a Lt.-Gen., identified those threats as stockpiling of arms by criminal groups, the formation of ethnic militia and violence induced by political activities. The army had in 2016 and 2017 conducted exercise Egwu Eke I and II to address peculiar security challenges in the South- East geo-political zone.

    “These challenges coupled with other security threats across the country such as terrorism, militancy, kidnapping and banditry portend that dissident groups and criminal elements could cash in on the situation to perpetrate large-scale violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections,’’ he said. According to the army chief, Nigerian troops need to be prepared and equipped with requisite skills in order to professionally and effectively respond to these challenges and security threats in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other para-military oganisations.

    Responding to a question on why Egwu Eke III is being conducted nationwide and not restricted to the South-East in line with its code name, Mr Buratai’s representative said there is python everywhere. “Even in the desert of Borno, don’t forget, the Lake Chad basin is there, python can also dance within the desert.

    “In fact, we have desert python, so python will dance all over the country this time around,’’ he said.

    The army chief explained that the success of the exercise Egwu Eke I and II in checkmating security threats in the South- East informed its implementation across the country now. Buratai called on Nigerians to provide the army and other security agencies with useful and timely information to enable them to deliver on the mandate of the planned exercise. He reaffirmed the commitment of the army to fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

    Thus, concerned stakeholders are hoping that the exercise will promptly take off in Katsina and help end the security worries of the government and residents of the state in good time before the general elections. “It is important to note that unless people are assured of safety long before the election, the entire exercise may suffer voters’ apathy, thereby reducing the credibility of the polls,” Tsiga said.

  • 10,000 Police Job: PSC gets 158,773 submission within 18 days

    The Police Service Commission (PSC), said it has received 158,773 applications from Nigerians who are seeking employment into the Nigeria Police Force as Constables.

    The Commission said it got the submissions 18 days after the announcement to recruit 10,000 as Constables was made.

    Out of the applications received, 140,902 are males while 17, 871 are females.

    The Commission while giving an update of the recruitment process in a statement in Abuja by its Spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani said the submissions reached 158,773 as at 11.00am on Monday, December 17th, 2018.

    Read Also: Govt. deploys troops, as gunmen kill 12 in fresh Southern Kaduna attack

    On the states with highest and lowest submissions, Ani said: “Niger State maintained its lead with 11,047 applicants while Bayelsa also remained last with 672 applicants. Kano State has the second highest applicants with 10,745 applications, Katsina State third with 9,778, Bauchi State fourth with 8,882 and Kaduna fifth with 8,832 and Adamawa sixth with 7,722.

    “Following Bayelsa State from the rear is Lagos State with 826 applicants, Ebonyi third from the rear with 980, Anambra, 984 and Abia State, 1,195 applicants.”

    The Commission advised interested applicants to apply within the next 21 days as the PSC portal would close on the 11th of January 2019.

  • Katsina, Niger Republic reach agreement on border crimes

    The Katsina State Government and the Republic of Niger, particularly, Maradi Region, have signed a three-year bilateral work plan agreement that would help check activities of criminals operating along their common border corridors.

    The agreement is also aimed at boosting commerce with particular attention to agriculture, sector of which many people from both areas depend on as source of livelihood.

    The governor of Maradi, Engr. Zakari Oumar while speaking on Thurday during the flag-off held at Sir Usman Nagogo Polo Play Ground, Katsina, said part of the agreement would see to collaborations through information exchange between the two governments, to tackle activities of suspected criminals at the borders.

    He identified clashes between herdsmen and farmers, as one problem the agreement would help address.

    He said ‘’ states like Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara along others sharing common border with Niger Republic, have also indicated interest in entering into similar agreements to ensure security in their areas’’.

    The regional governor also disclosed that the agreement would help boost trade, as well as foster brotherliness between people of his region and Katsina.

    Read Also: Police nab five man armed robbery gang in Katsina

    Speaking, Governor Aminu Bello Masari said the agreement is meant to facilitate movement of people within the two countries, enhance security and improve relationship between farmers and herders moving within their border.

    Masari, represented by his deputy, Mannir Yakubu said implementation of the agreement would drastically reduce the frequent conflicts between farmers and herders operating within their domains.

    But the Secretary to the Government of Katsina state, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa said the agreement was made possible through the efforts of governors and officials of the two states.

    Inuwa said with the agreement, the issue of shielding criminals who cross into each others’ territory has largely been resolved, as both sides have exhibited commitment to tackling criminality.

  • Katsina Govt mulls ban on street begging

     The Katsina State Government is planning to ban street begging in the state, saying it is causing her, several embarrassments and negating the efforts by government to eradicate poverty in the state.
     
    The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr Badiyya Hassan Marshi told The Nation in an exclusive interview in her office that already, the state government has forwarded a bill to the State House of Assembly and awaiting its passage, hoping that the bill when it becomes law will give bite to Government’s determination to weed the street off those whose mindset are bent on continuing begging while ignoring several governments empowerment and social intervention programs.
     
    She said ‘’a draft bill is already before the State House of Assembly, meant to address street begging, hawking especially by women and the girl child who were often used by handicapped adult beggars. These Children who leads the adults to begging are often lured and abused, and we must address that’’.
     

    Read Also: Katsina releases N400m for S-Power employees’ stipends

    “”Government has several social intervention programs and empowerment but these beggars shun such efforts by government and prefer continuing begging as a habit and incurably mindset and cannot leave the streets.’’
     
    ‘’just recently about 1000 handicapped beggars were picked off the streets and empowered unfortunately these same set of people would rather prefer selling off their start up packs and kept roaming the street as if nothing has been done for them.’’
     
    She further maintained that the State Government has taken 70% of Women and Children beggars off the street and empowered them, adding that those found on the street are there not because of lack of employment opportunities and self sustenance, but because they prefers such lifestyles.
     
    Hajia Marshi said the state government has already initiated another soft loan through the Micro Finance Banks with a takeoff supporting funds of about N20m and that each start up loans will be N10, 000 on revolving arrangements.
     
    On whether the state Governor has sufficiently addressed the challenges facing Katsina Women considering that they constitutes more than 60% of his political support base, she said  both the Governor and women in the state shares mutual goodwill and that the challenges facing Katsina Women have been sufficiently addressed through multi sectoral approach.