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Tag: Mohammed Garba

  • Customs task journalists on objective, balanced reports

    The Area Controller, Seme Border, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, has urged journalists to be objective and balance in their reports and maintain media ethics and ethos while disseminating information to the public.

    Garba gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the command in Seme, Badagry Local Government Area, Lagos.

    According to him, false information will always make the public to disrespect such media organisation that disseminated wrong information.

    “The media has the power to make or mar the society, but they have to be objective in handling information.

    “Stories should be balanced before sending it out for public consumption.

     

    Read also: Customs probes illegal import of military wears

    “At times, when you try to get information through phone calls or messages and the person is not responding, try and give him or her more time to get the information,” he said.

    Garba said that the command needs the collaboration of the media to pass information on the daily activities of the command.

    “Customs generate revenue to government, make seizure and arrest smugglers, but without the press, the public will not know what we are doing.

    “This is why we must work hand in hand to pass the information to the public,’’ he said.

    Garba, however, lauded the efforts of some media organisations in keeping the public well informed and educated.

    He said it was also important that journalists might have information that would be useful to the command, urging them to assist in passing it on.

  • One feared killed as ‘cultists’ clash in Lagos

    Police arrest 15

    One person was on Tuesday feared killed after suspected cultists protested in Ketu, Lagos.

    The young men numbering over 50 were said to have blocked the Ketu/Mile 12 Market axis to protest the arrest of some of their members allegedly smoking Marijuana in the market.

    It was alleged that the deceased whose identity was yet to be ascertained, was hit by stray bullet from policemen sent to disperse the crowd.

    The rampaging youths were said to have vandalised people’s vehicles, smashing windscreens and looting properties.

    Unconfirmed reports indicated that several persons sustained injuries in the melee.

    According to a trader, Mohammed Garba, policemen from Ketu Division who arrived the scene opened fire which accidentally hit one of the protesters.

    Garba said the victim died on the spot, adding that the youths carried the corpse and danced round the neighborhood.

    “As a result of the death of their colleague, the dared the police to shoot them and became violent. The problem actually started on Monday night and continued yetetsay morning.

    “It was on Monday morning that the young man was killed. The police were shooting in the air but bullet hit the victim.”

    Another witness, Aisha Ahmed said: “They were out as early as 6:30am. They grounded business and other activities. Before we knew what was happening, they took over the gate and started harassing both traders and those who came to the market to  buy goods.

    “The leadership of the market tried to stop them from going ahead with the planned protest but they were adamant. The crowd kept increasing and they were smoking weed as well. It was the leadership of the market that invited the police.”

    Another trader Chioma Nze blamed the protesters for the crisis, noting that the young men usually terrorised traders.

    Read Also: Suspected cultists kill 23 year-old in Ondo

    She said: “We are tired of the constant threat from hoodlums who only come to the market to smoke Marijuana. In fact, their activities are a threat to residents as well as traders.

    “This hoodlums have been operating, smoking Marijuana and causing problems. The trouble today started with them. They attacked policemen and almost destroyed a patrol vehicle”

    Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP) denied anyone was killed in the clash, adding that clam had returned to the area.

    Oti said the cultists got information on the movement of their arrested member from the station to court, and attempted to disrupt the process.

    He said: “The group came out and blocked the road to be used by the police prosecutor. When passersby saw them, they fled for fear of a possible attack.

    “Policemen from Ketu were immediately moved to the area to disperse the hooums.

    “As we speak, about 15 suspects have been arrested. They have heen moved to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, Yaba for further investigation.

    “No casualty was recorded throughout the operation and normalcy have also been returned  to the place.”

  • Kano declares Tuesday public holiday for Maitama Sule

    Kano declares Tuesday public holiday for Maitama Sule

    Kano State Government has declared Tuesday as public holiday in honour of late elder statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule, who died, in the early hours of Monday in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt.

    The state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Mohammed Garba, who confirmed that the former Minister of National Guidance in the Second Republic, died in Cairo after a protracted illness.

    According to the statement, the deceased lying in state will take place at the palace of Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi 11, to enable prominent Nigerians to mourn and pay their last respect to the elder statesman before his internment.

    The statement reads: ” The death has occurred today (Monday) of Alhaji (Dr.) Yusuf Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano.

    “Dr. Yusuf Maitama Sule died at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, where he was receiving treatment for an illness.

    “Funeral prayer for the deceased will be conducted tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Emir’s Palace, Kofar Kudu, by 4:00 p.m.

    “Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has declared Tuesday a work – free day in the state to mourn the death of the elder statesman.”

    Confirming the ex-minister’s death, one of his surviving sons, Alhaji Mukhtar Maitama Sule, said he died 24 hours after arriving the Egyptian hospital.

    He said his father’s remains would be flown to Nigeria on Tuesday for a befitting burial.

  • Kano pledges to upgrade NYSC orientation camp in Karaye

    Kano pledges to upgrade NYSC orientation camp in Karaye

    The Kano State Government  has pledged to upgrade the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp located in Karaye Local Government Area of the state.

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje made the pledge during the closing ceremony of a three-week orientation for the Batch ‘A’ stream II at Kusalla town on Monday.

    Ganduje, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Comrade Mohammed Garba, particularly said the government would increase the accommodation capacity of the camp from 2,500 to 5,000.

    “The state government has awarded contracts for upgrade of all the facilities in the camp and the renovation of both the male and the female hostels,’’ he said.

    He assured all the corps members of their security and appealed to them to cooperate with their host communities.

    “Government has resuscitated and increased the State-Allowances to N5,000 monthly in government agencies, parastatals, and in the 44 Local Government Areas,’’ he added.

    The governor enjoined the corps members to be patriotic and to render selfless service to the communities where they would be posted to on primary assignment.

    He said the government placed high premium on them as change agents and as drivers of the state’s development policies.

    Earlier, the NYSC Coordinator in Kano, Alhaji Ladan Baba, had applauded the state government for agreeing to upgrade the camp.

    According to him, the camp, the camp has facilities and land vast enough to accommodate more than 5, 000 persons.

    He advised the corps members to contribute their quota towards the development of the state by initiating projects that could impact positively on the lives of people in their host communities.

    Baba further urged them to shun all forms of acts capable of jeopardising the harmonious relationship between them and their host communities.