The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KUJE

  • NOA tasks Kuje residents on Security

    NOA tasks Kuje residents on Security

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on residents of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory to increase vigilance around their neighborhoods in order to forestall crimes and security threats in the community.

    Director General of NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri made this call during a public sensitization programme on security consciousness organized by the Agency at the Gomo of Kuje’s palace in Kuje.

    Represented by Mr. Ado Solomon, Director, Human Resource Management of the Agency, the NOA Director General stressed the need for Kuje residents to know their neighbours and reports suspicious characters to security agencies, pointing out that the rapid development of Kuje from a rural settlement to a town in recent years has the tendency to attract all sorts of characters.

    He urged residents to arm themselves with relevant distress call numbers and always keep their phones on and credited at night in case of emergency.

    The traditional ruler of Kuje, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Haruna Tanko Jibrin described the security of lives and property of subjects as a paramount responsibility of the traditional institution and expressed his commitment to helping government maintain a peaceful and secure community where persons of all social, political, ethnic and religious leanings coexist without fear or intimidation.

    The Gomo of Kuje however called on government to provide traditional institutions the necessary support by creating job opportunities for the teeming population of unemployed youths thereby making them unavailable for criminal activities.

    It would be recalled that Kuje suffered from twin bomb blast attacks last month; a situation alien to that community. Resource persons, Mr. David Dogo and Mr. Kayode Bolaji drew lessons from the attacks to school participants on early warning signals and measures to avert security failure in the communities.

    Participants commended the effort of NOA at sensitizing the public on security consciousness, asking that such sensitization be continuous. Participants were drawn from among community leaders, security agencies, students, public servants, farmers, traders and voluntary organizations.

  • Kuje FRSC cautions motorists on rules

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kuje Unit command, has urged motorists to obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving.

    Mr Charles Umoh, the unit commander cautioned the drivers during a safety road show tagged “Driving Safely Into 2016” organised by the Kuje command.

    Umoh said the exercise was aimed at sensitising motorists on the need to strictly adhere to traffic rules and the dangers of reckless driving during the Yuletide.

    He said road crashes are not mere occurrences but negligence by some motorists which can be reduced by building good road-user attitude and adherence to traffic rules.

    According to him, record shows that arrogance on the part of drivers in terms of speeding, expired tires, drink-driving and over-loaded vehicles are the major causes of road accidents.

    “Accidents do not just happen; they are caused by road users as a result of negligence and disobedience of traffic rules and regulations.

    “Road traffic crashes are not mere occurrences but largely human, which can be reduced through conscious effort by driving carefully and strict adherence to traffic rules.

    “All we need to do on our highways is to examine our driving attitude to stay clear of any unhealthy practices and to be promoters of road safety advocacy,” he said.

    The Unit Commander also called for partnership with the Kuje Transport Union and FRSC Kuje command to work in synergy to reduce road accidents to the barest.

    He assured that there would be zero crash during and after the yuletide period as the Road Marshals would be vigilant during the festival.

    The FRSC FCT Sector Commander, represented by the Deputy Corps Commander, Mr Udeme Eshiet, urged Motorist in the area to obey traffic rules and drive safely into 2016.  According to him, unsafe conditions were factors responsible for road accidents and could be averted by strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations’

    Eshiet urged the taxi drivers and motorcycle riders in the area to obey road traffic rules during and after the Christmas period to ensure that innocent lives are not lost.

    He said that, “The road users need to be conscious of safety while on the road, and the need to change their attitude from negative to positive.

    “When you have respect for other road users, you will know that there is need to drive safely to avoid road accident.

    “There is always an increase in vehicular movement during the Christmas period, because people want to achieve something they have planned for the year.

    “But one thing is for sure, it is only the living that can achieve his/her goals, so I urge all the road users to drive safely into 2016 because there is another Christmas to celebrate.

    The Chairman of Kuje Tipper Garage Transport Union, Alhaji Saleh Haruna, thanked the Kuje FRSC for the sensitisation campaign and promised to cooperate with the command at all times.

    He called on FRSC and other stakeholders to ensure the mounting of more road signs at identified flash-points to caution drivers in the area.

    The sensitisation campaign featured drama presentation by the FRSC Club of the Nation Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Road Show

    The FRSC team visited Wowo Park along Kuje-Gwgagwalada road and Tipper Garage to sensitise members of the public on fake driver’s license and safety measures.

  • Kuje impeached Speaker reinstated

    The impeached Speaker of Kuje Area Council Legislative Arm, Honorable Aisha Yakubu was recently reinstated through a court injunction by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Court Order with suit No: FCT/HC/CV/2609/2015. Motion No: M/9516/2015 served to the Legislative arm ordered the immediate reinstatement of the impeached speaker.

    Two months ago  in the Area Council the youths had on Saturday August 1, 2005 staged a peaceful protest over the impeachment of the speaker by the Legislative arm of the Area Council.

    The Court Order read that, “The defendants whether by themselves or their agents howsoever constituted, restrained from harassing and intimidating.

    “preventing the applicant from carrying out the duties of her office as the speaker of the House, pending the final determination of the originating sermon already filed and served.

    “Leave of this Honorable Court is also hereby granted restraining the defendants, from forcing the plaintiff to handover government properties in her possession as the speaker of the House.’’

    Speaking to newsmen, the reinstated Speaker said her impeachment by the House did not follow due process as there was no formal seating or notice served to her.

    She said that her impeachment was announced by a radio house without her notice and the decision was not by the majority of the House.

    “On July 31, 2015. I was in my house in the evening when I heard on radio that I have been imp  eached by the Legislative Arm.

    “Is it not normal to impeach someone without a hearing or reason? Only to be announced by a radio house that I have been impeached.

    “I went to the Judiciary to seek justice and a Court injunction has been served by the High Court in FCT to the House to enable me resume my office,’’ Yakubu said.

    “Before you impeach someone there should be process and reason for that, and not to announce it in a radio house.

    Also speaking, the Supervisory Councilor for Special Duties who doubled as Special Adviser to the Chairman on media to the , Mr Yusuf Dabo, who spoke on behalf of the Area Council Chairman, said the misunderstanding was purely a Legislative matter and has little to comment on.

    The acting Speaker, Mr Tanko Dada said he would write an appeal to the judgment of the High Court on the matter.

     

  • Boko Haram: Military, police, DSS, others raid Kuje for suspects

    Boko Haram: Military, police, DSS, others raid Kuje for suspects

    • ‘We acted on intelligence reports’  

    Military operatives and officers of the police and State Security Service (SSS) yesterday raided Kuje, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    Many suspected Boko Haram members and hoodlums were arrested after operatives combed major areas and suburbs of the town.

    It was learnt that the raid was in connection with search for suspected Boko Haram members and hoodlums.

    The operatives converged at the Divisional Police headquarters in Kuje where many of the suspects were taken to.

    Our correspondent gathered from top security operative that the arrested hoodlums will be properly interrogated and their homes searched before they can be released.

    Few weeks ago, multiple bombs exploded in Kuje killing several people and leaving others injured.

    Surveillance has been increased the area and its environs since the incident.

    FCT Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, confirmed the raid to our correspondent on phone, explaining that it was based on intelligence reports.

    According to him: “What we are doing are proactive measures to ensure that FCT is safe and secure, taking the battle to these miscreants and hoodlums.

    “And they are intelligence- led; we don’t just storm a place. When we storm, it is a product of intelligence that has been gathered.

    ”It will be a continuous exercise until we are very sure that people can sleep with their two eyes closed.

    “We want it to get to a level that when you are travelling within FCT, you will not be afraid. We want to eliminate the fear of crime.”

  • Suspect in Abuja bombing pleads guilty

    Suspect in Abuja bombing pleads guilty

    One of the five men accused of being involved in the October 2 bomb explosions in Nyanya and Kuje, suburbs of Abuja, Abdullahi Nasiru, pleaded guilty on Thursday to being in possession of 12 Improvised Explosive Devices and other materials used for making the bomb.

    Nasiru (23 years) was arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja on Thursday with Abdulazeez Muhazab (26), Ishiaka Salihu (25) and Mohammed Jimoh (33) and Abdullahi Nasiru (34), who pleaded not guilty to all the five counts of the charge brought against them.

    Nasiru, who was not fluent in English, spoke in pidgin English when the charge was read to him. He pleaded guilty to the fourth count, which relate to being in possession of 12 IEDs and materials used for manufacturing them.

    The charge was read and interpreted to Nasiru  and the fifth accused person, ‎Abdullahi in pidgin English.

    Nasiru pleaded not guilty to the first three counts of conspiracy and the carrying out of the bombings in the separate locations, but when the fourth count was interpreted to him, he pleaded guilty but said the items found on him belonged to his friend.

    “I’m guilty, but no be me get am, na my friend get am,” Nasiru said in pidgin English.

    Following his guilty plea to the fourth court, his lawyer, Nurein Sulyman, sprang up from his seat, sought the court’s permission to speak with his client. He approached the dock (where Nasiru stood with others) and asked him if he truly understood what he pleaded guilty ‎to.

    Nasiru maintained that he was guilty of the charge of the possession of the IEDs and the other materials.

    The five men were accused of conspiring among themselves of carrying out the bombings of Kuje town and Jikoyi park in Nyanya on October 2 resulting in “the death of scores of innocent citizens and many others sustained various degrees of injuries as well as destroying properties” being acts punishable under sections 17 and 2(a) of Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013”.

    It was alleged,  in the fifth count,  that between August and October 2015, Jimoh and Salihu aided Abdulazeez Muhazab (first respondent) “to store and conceal” the items suspected to be used for manufacturing of IEDs, an act punishable under section 2(g) of the law.

    The accused persons are said to all hail from Kogi State. They were said to have been arrested with already-made 12 IEDs and other materials used for manufacturing the explosives in Unguwar Ebira, Karamajiji area, behind Military Cemetery along Airport Road in Abuja on October 6.

    The materials they were allegedly arrested with included 27 pieces of detonators, aluminium powder, hexomine, hydrogen peroxide, sulphur powder, sodium azide plus nitrate, iron II oxide, soldiering wire, sugar, pH litmus paper, sodium carbonate and thermometer.

    Others are chlorate, filter paper, strings, potassium chlorate, 12 ready-made IEDs and full bag of fertilizer.

    Following their arraignment, lead prosecution lawyer and Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Diri, said he would still lead evidence to prove the guilt of all the accused persons, including Nasiru with regard to the count he had confessed to.

    Sulyman, who represented all the accused persons, said after court proceedings that he was yet to have access to his cleints.

    He said by the nature of the charges against his clients, Nasiru was still at liberty to change his plea to not guilty should he wish before judgment.

    “Pleading guilty is actually not a big deal. This is a capital offence, he is at liberty to change his plea to not guilty if he wishes,” Sulyman said.

    Trial judge, Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati ordered that the accused persons be moved from police custody and remanded in Kuje prison.

    He adjourned to November 17

  • Security operatives keep watch at Abuja blasts scene

    Two days after the multiple bomb blasts in Kuje, on the suburb of Abuja in which several people were killed and others injured, security operatives are still keeping vigil at the scene.

    Business activities are still on hold as shops in the affected area are under lock and key.

    Nobody is allowed to move close to the scene.

    Residents and other passerby are still in shock over the incident.

    The Democratic People’s Congress (DPC) on Sunday condemned the bomb blasts in a statement signed by the party’s National Chairman, Rev. Olusegun Peters.

    “We vehemently denounce the killing of innocent Nigerians by misguided terrorists. It is outrageous, obnoxious, detestable and barbaric. Our hearts go out to the families that lost their loved ones.

  • Abuja blasts: Female suicide bomber’s body recovered

    Abuja blasts: Female suicide bomber’s body recovered

    The body of a female suicide bomber behind the Kuje attacks in the Federal Capital Territory has been located and taken to the National Hospital in Abuja for forensic analysis.

    Also, as at 7pm, official confirmation indicated that 18 person were killed in the bomb explosions in Nyanya and Kuje.

    The government also said 41 others were injured.

    According to investigation by our correspondent, security agencies have discovered that a female bomber was used by Boko Haram to wreak havoc in Kuje.

    A top security source said: “The said female bomber was wired by the insurgents. We were able to retrieve her corpse for forensic examination.

    “The outcome of the forensic analysis may provide some intelligence for the military and security agencies.

    “The corpse of the female bomber is already in the morgue at the National Hospital in Abuja.

    “We have placed all the six districts in the FCT under 24-hour surveillance to ward off such invasion by the insurgents.”

    Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday confirmed that 18 persons were killed in the explosions in Kuje and Nyanya.

    It also said 41 people were injured bringing the number of victims to 59.

    The Abuja Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ishayah Chonoko, said: “After the evacuation of victims of bomb blast in satellite towns of Kuje and Nyanya to various hospitals in Abuja city, NEMA has confirmed that 59 people were affected.

    “Eighteen (18) persons lost their lives and forty one (41) got injured.

    While three deaths and 21 injured victims were recorded in Nyanya incident, 15 persons lost their lives in Kuje with 20 persons being treated for injury.

    “Meanwhile the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Mohammed Sani-Sidi, who led some of the evacuations and visited victims in the hospitals, has assured that the government would foot the medical bill of the victims.

    “He also reiterated the need for security consciousness among the citizens by reporting any suspicious objects and strange movement in their localities to security agencies.

     

  • Breaking News: Twin bomb blasts in Abuja, scores dead, injured

    Boko Haram militants struck Friday night in Kuje and Nyanya parts of the Federal Capital Territory leaving many dead  and a some people injured.
    The death toll was put at about 20 but the military, security agencies and the National Emergency Management Agency( NEMA) were mopping up last night.
    Although NEMA confirmed that the explosions resulted in a number of deaths and injuries, it was silent on the toll.
    Armed soldiers have been drafted to the affected parts to curtail the insurgents.
    There was suspicion that the attacks were carried out in anger by the insurgents because some of their key commanders are being detained in Kuje Prison.
    According to eye witness account, the insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on the Police Station and the market in the town
    A resident said: “The militants struck at a busy spot near the Kuje Area Council Secretariat junction which also hosts a major bus stop in the town. They targeted crowded area because a mini-market is also being run in the area.
    “As at the time the bomb explosion occurred, there were many people in the affected spot.
    Another resident said: “The spontaneous attacks were launched on  Kuje at about 9.10pm. What they did was first of all to bomb the police station in Kuje to destabilize the police and other security agencies.
    “Shortly after the attack on the police, another bomb was detonated at a busy end near Kuje Area Council Secretariat.
    “The explosions shattered many buildings in Kuje. The General Hospital in the town was overstretched and  many ambulances were drafted to rescue victims.”
    A reliable source said: “The insurgents invaded and attacked the FCT from two major entry points. But the military and security agencies have moved in”.
    A statement by NEMA through its  Press Officer, Manzo Ezekiel, reads : “Following  the unfortunate explosions that occurred this night in Nyanya and Kuje, which are two satellite  towns in the Federal Capital Territory, the National Emergency Management Agency( NEMA) has deployed its rescue teams in the evacuation of the victims to various hospitals.
    “The explosions which occurred simultaneously have resulted in a number of deaths and injuries but the rescue operations coordinated by NEMA are still ongoing. Details would be made available later.”

     

  • Kuje council chair canvasses support

    The chairman of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Shaban Tete has appealed to residents to support the council during the economic meltdown.

    Tete said that the economic issues in the country are not only causing hardship in other states but also in the FCT.

    He further gave the assurance of more and better developments on ground in the area council when allocations to the council’s improve because, according to him, no form of developmental intentions can be met without funds.

    The council boss made this known through his special assistant Media and Publicity, Hon. Yusuf Dabo who divulged the issue to newsmen in Abuja.

    “But, we are doing our best to affect the lives of our people positively.  But,  people will not understand what is going on in the council,  particularly Kuje area council that is sharing border with Nassarawa state.  For instance, we are presently grading a ten kilometre road from gigbe in Kwali area council to Kwaku up to Takwa.

    “We sunk boreholes in Kwaku, Pasu,  Gadoro and Sabo villages and also rehabilated some broken down boreholes in Lanto village and in Kayada in Kuje town.  We are building a health centre in Chibiri village and also provided rural electrification in Kango village.

    “Since our administration,  we have purchased six 33kva transformers that have been installed in various locations of the central ward,  like Unguwan Gade, behind central mosque, Unguwan Gade Kassa, Kayada Primary School, Low cost housing Mentobal.

    “All this have been achieved within the meager amount of money that is coming to the council coffers.   We will definitely do more in future, all we need is for residents to support and always pray for our administration,” he said.

     

  • Alleged N1.351b bribery: Lamido, sons moved to Kuje

    Alleged N1.351b bribery: Lamido, sons moved to Kuje

    •May get bail soon

    Former Jigawa State Governor Lamido and his two sons (Aminu and Mustapha) were yesterday relocated from Kano to Kuje Prisons in Abuja ahead of the hearing of their application for bail by a vacation judge.

    They were allegedly kept in the same building block with some Boko Haram suspects.

    But their relocation was greeted with excitement as inmates jubilated in anticipation of free Ramadan meals.

    The three suspects are standing trial with Wada Abubakar for a 208-count charge of abuse of public trust and N1.351billion bribery by contractors.

    Although they pleaded not guilty last Thursday, they were remanded in prison custody by Justice Evelyn Anyadike.

    Investigation showed that Lamido and his sons were brought to Kuje Prisons at  1pm yesterday, after spending a few days in Kano Prisons.

    It was gathered that although the suspects would have been moved to a separate detention facility, the order of Justice Anyadike had to be complied with.

    It was learnt that the order was explicit that they should be remanded in a prison custody.

    A reliable source said: “Upon arrival, they were formally registered as inmates, even though they are high-profile suspects.

    “There was however security scares when the suspects were taken to the same block, where some Boko Haram members were detained. But unlike the Central Prisons in Kano, the suspects were kept in neat cells.

    “The fear was, however, temporary as inmates became excited in anticipation that the former governor would assist them to solve some problems.

    “Some of the inmates asked the governor and his sons to provide them better meals to break their Ramadan fast yesterday.

    “The governor and his children were later seen making arrangements for their own feeding outside the prison rations.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Were it not for the order of the court that the suspects be kept in prison, they would have been relocated to another facility.

    “This is why they will be in Kuje Prisons until their application for bail is granted. I think the EFCC wants them to observe Sallah at home.”

    Findings, however, confirmed that the ex-governor and his children were relocated to Abuja ahead of their arraignment before a vacation judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja for bail.

    A source in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said: “A vacation judge is expected to hear the bail application of the suspects any time this week.

    “So, they have to relocate to Abuja to enable a judge to consider their request for bail. I know that they have been moved to Abuja, but I cannot tell you their whereabouts.”