The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa State

  • Troops rescue three kidnapped victims in Benue

    The Defence Headquarters on Saturday said troops of operation Whirl Stroke deployed in North-central of the country have rescued three kidnapped victims in a family compound in Katsina-Ala local government of Benue state.

    According to the spokesman of the Defence Headquarters, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the troops after rescuing the kidnapped victims destroyed the building being used by kidnappers to commit crime.

    He said in a statement that a notorious kidnapper known as Gana, now on the run, has been using the house as hideouts for kidnappers who engaged troops in a shoot-out during early morning raid.

    Col. Nwachkwu said: “Troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to counter banditry activities in North Central Nigeria have rescued 3 kidnapped victims in a building located at Gana’s family compound at Gbise in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State.

    “The victims, a man and two women were rescued during a dawn raid in the early hours of Friday 26 April 2019, when gallant troops stormed a building reportedly belonging to a notorious bandits’ leader, Gana.

    “The visibly traumatized victims claimed they were abducted about 2 months ago at Gboko by a gang of kidnappers and subsequently relocated to Gbise community.

    Read Also: Troops kill six bandits in Zamfara

    “Troops are still on the trail of the criminals, who fled their enclave after they were overpowered in a shootout with the troops. Troops have also destroyed the building which served as the kidnappers’ hideout.

    “The rescued persons have been handed over to authorities of Benue State Government for medical attention before reuniting them with their respective families.

    “Similarly, troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE deployed to Giza in Nasarawa State have arrested a bandit during a raid on a suspected bandits’ hideout at Alima, near Kadarko in Nasarawa state.

    “The bandit, who was intercepted with a locally made rifle and some quantity of gun powder is currently assisting in preliminary investigations after which he will be handed over to an appropriate prosecuting security agency.”

  • Easter: Don’t destroy lives, Catholic Bishop tells Nigerians

    Catholic Bishop of Lafia Diocese in Nasarawa state, Most Rev. Matthew Audu, has called on Christians to strive to save lives and not join in destroying them.

    The bishop made the call in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Lafia after celebration the Easter mass, and said that the call was imperative given the rate some Nigerians were taking the lives of fellow humans.

    He said that nobody had the right to take the life of another.

    According to him, people should make sacrifice for people who are in need just as Jesus Christ did for the salvation of mankind.

    The cleric said that there was need for Christians to make sacrifices for people who were in need just as Christ died for the salvation of mankind.

    “We are expected to do what Jesus did for us by accepting to die on the cross for our sins. We must be ready to make sacrifices so that other people will live. We must support people who are in need,” he said.

    He explained that the salvation of the world was made possible during Easter as it was the time Jesus died on the Cross to save humanity.

    Audu stated that the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter marked the turning point in the lives of Christians, adding that His resurrection was the determining factor of Christianity.

    Read Also: Catholic bishops preach piety, good neighbourliness at Easter

    He urged Christians to emulate the life of Jesus whose death and resurrection brought freedom to mankind.

    “Jesus died and rose from the dead and that is why his resurrection has become a determining factor on why we are his followers.

    “His rising from the dead has guaranteed us that He can help us to overcome death,” he said.

    The bishop noted that the insecurity in the country called for serious prayers for God’s intervention.

    He, therefore, admonished perpetrators of criminality in the country to desist or face to wrought of God.

    NAN

     

  • I will implement new national minimum wage – Nasarawa Governor-elect

    Mr Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa state Governor-elect on Friday, pledged to implement the new minimum wage, after sworn in as the governor.

    He made the pledge in a statement signed by his media aide, Alhaji Sanusi Aliyu in Lafia on Friday.

    The governor-elect applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the New Minimum National Wage Bill into Law.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari on Thursday signed the bill into law.

    Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the signing of the new national minimum wage bill into law will usher in a ‘new dawn’ for workers.

    The presidential aide also said that the signing into law of the new national minimum wage bill showed that the president was willing to take every necessary step to motivate the workers toward greater productivity and improve their welfare.

    Read Also: Buhari signs N30,000 Minimum Wage Bill

    Sule also said that the action of the president was a testament to the fact that, “Our patriotic and beloved President prioritises the welfare of Nigerian workers.

    “That he is always ready to ensure the right conditions are in place for them.

    “This step will not only go a long way in assisting workers in meeting certain needs, but will also strengthen the relationship between employers and employees and motivate improved productivity.”

    Sule assured the state workers that he would follow the footstep of the president by implementing the new wage structure for them.

    The governor-elect said: “This is an opportunity to reassure workers in the state that, Nasarawa state will also enjoy the new national minimum wage signed into law by the President.

    “Other welfare issues, pensions, gratuities and so on will be adequately attended to.

    “Workers should take advantage of this by redoubling their efforts toward achieving our collective goals and making Nigeria a better place for all.’’

    NAN reports that the Senate had on March 19, approved N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage with an appeal to the Federal Government to expedite action on its assent and implementation. (NAN)

     

  • Herdsmen attacks: ‘I lost a pregnant daughter, three others’

    A resident of Numan-Chuko in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Maiwuya Bahago, on Monday narrated how she lost a pregnant daughter and three other children to alleged herdsmen attack.

    Bahago said the unfortunate incident occurred on Sunday, when her children were attending a naming ceremony in the neighbourhood.

    According to her, at about 9 p.m., some persons suspected to be herdsmen invaded the vicinity, shooting sporadically.

    She said, “four of my children were killed by herdsmen yesterday. One was pregnant, another one was a mother of three and two others were unmarried.

    “They came for the naming ceremony and that was how they met their demise”.

    Bahago called for assistance from the government and well-meaning Nigerians to cater for the children left behind by the deceased.

    “How do I take care of these children they left behind. I do not have anyone to help me bring them.

    “I need prayers and help from well-meaning Nigerians,” she said.

    REad also: Herdsmen kill two, injure three in Ekiti

    In the same vein, some survivors who were receiving treatment at the Akwanga  General Hospital, narrated their ordeal.

    One Maikasuwa Ngila, a young man, who sustained injuries on the leg, said he was shot at while trying to escape from the scene.

    “I attended the naming ceremony in the town yesterday evening and the next thing we saw was an attack on us.

    “We ran looking for a safe place to hide but before I knew what was happening, I was shot in the leg.

    “I saw the attackers. They were herdsmen,” he said

    Another survivor, an elderly man, who sustained bullet wounds in the face, Ayuba Maikano, said it was an unfortunate incident.

    He said he was hit when he stood up to leave the venue of the naming ceremony.

    Maikano said, “I was at the naming ceremony. I stood up to leave because it was getting late and the next thing, I heard were sporadic gun shots.

    “I was hit by a bullet in the face. I did not see the faces of the persons that carried out the attack but bullets were flying everywhere. It happened between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunday night.”

    The Medical Director of Akwanga General Hospital, Dr Gonji Thomas, told newsmen that 15 persons were brought to the hospital dead while some persons sustained different degrees of injury.

    He said:”15 corpses were brought in here while four persons were brought in with bullet injuries and were placed on admission.

    “The family of one of the victims took his corpse for burial. So we have 14 left corpses in the mortuary.

    “Some of the victims came as outpatients. So in all we have treated eight injured persons.”

    Reacting to the incident, the Paramount Ruler, Chum-Mada Akwanga, HRH Samson  Yare, urged the Federal Government to equip the security agents with proper information gadgets for proper surveillance.

    He said, ” these attackers do not live in the moon. If we can spend resources to trace solid minerals under the ground, it should not be a difficult thing to trace where they live.

    “I plead for urgent measures to be taken to forestall a repeat of this  incident.

    “It is quite unfortunate and strange because we have never had any form of clash in this community.

    “We have been living harmoniously for a long time,” he noted.

    The paramount ruler urged the people to remain calm, saying security operatives had commenced investigation into the matter.

    He pointed out that “from on the spot assessment I carried out when the incident happened, they said their attackers interacted with them before they suddenly resulted to sporadic shooting.

    “There are witnesses who can identify some of the attackers.

    “This thing happened in the night and the terrain was not so accessible and before we could inform the Police, the damage had been done.”

    Commiserating with victims, Sen. Philip Gyunka(PDP-Nasarawa) urged the people to remain calm while investigation was being carried out by relevant authorities.

    He called for relief materials for victims, to cushion the effect of the attacks.

    Confirming the incident, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Police Command, Inusa Mohammed said, “It is quite unfortunate what happened.

    “However, trying to shift the blame on the security agency is another unfortunate one.

    “Actually, Police needs information to work. If information is not passed to the Police, there is no how we will know.

    “For instance, the wee hour it happened and the location it happened is far from the Police.

    “So, we only got to know when it had happened.”

    He assured residence that investigation had commenced into the matter.(NAN)

  • Herdsmen kill 16 in Nasarawa Community

    Gunmen suspected to be Fulani militias on Sunday attacked Numa village in Andaha community of Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State killing 16 Mada natives during a naming ceremony.

    The incident is coming barely three weeks after it was reported that some suspected herdsmen raped a Mada girl to death which had sparked off a faceoff between the herdsmen and the natives.

    Confirming the ugly incident to Journalists in Akwanga, the headquarters of Akwanga Local Government, the senator representing Nasarawa north senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Sen. Philip Aruwa Gyunka, said the celebrants made up of the father, mother and the son were killed during the attack.

    The Nasarawa senator describes the killings as unfortunate, barbaric and uncalled for.

    Senator Gyunka said: “The unfortunate thing is that both the celebrants- the father, mother and the boy were killed. A pregnant woman is involved in this attack. An aged person above 100 years is also involved in the attack.”

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap four women in Nasarawa

    “They did not spare women or children and this are the people that don’t have arms,” he explained.

    Gyunka continued that he recently moved a motion on the floor of the senate calling on the Federal Government to establish a military base in Akwanga as according to him “because Akwanga is a range for people from Calabar, Maiduguri etc meet in Akwanga to go to Abuja.

    “You can see that incidents of kidnapping and robbery on the Akwanga – Abuja road. This is as result of people moving with weapons unchecked,” Gyunka explained.

    Also, the Paramount ruler of the Mada nation, HRH Samuel Gamu-Yare, while speaking to journalists in his palace about the attack on his subjects, said’ this thing happened like a thunder strike in the night and the terrain was too accessible and when we informed the police, the perpetrators have vanished.”

    Gamu-Yare, who is the Chun Mada, confirmed that 16 people of Mada extraction died in the attack.

    “We have 16 deaths while several others were critically wounded. The militias attacked the celebrant during the naming ceremony before they suddenly resolve to sporadic shooting.”

    “Some of the assassins we’re identified and some names were mentioned and handed over to the security agents,” the monarch revealed.

    According to the Mada monarch, “the situation is quite unfortunate, devastating that a peaceful, law abiding and innocent community like mine, which over decades have never involved in skirmishes either internally or externally, would be attacked when in celebration mood of a naming ceremony by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.”

  • Perm Sec makes case for effective service delivery

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. William Alo, has called on labour officers to be vanguards for labour justice by demonstrating professionalism, diligence, transparency and honesty in discharging their duties.

    He made the call at the zonal sensitization workshop on Resolving trade disputes and seeking redress for labour injustice, organised by the ministry for labour officers, in Maraba, Nasarawa State.

    Alo, represented by the Director, Human Resource Management, Alhaji Ibrahim Ajibola, said the objective of the workshop was to articulate procedures for seeking redress on issues of unfair labour practices, adding that employees should know their limitations in order not to infringe on the rights of others.

    Read Also: Perm Sec to civil servants: build capacity, add value to service

    “As professionals in this area, the workshop shall equip you with the skills required to identify levels and sources of labour injustice in the world of work. I am confident that the outcome of the workshop will further ensure that industrial peace and harmony is maintained in work places through strict observance and adherence to the rule of law which guarantees equal rights before the law as well as the extant labour legislations,” he added.

    Alo urged the participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the workshop to equip themselves with the skills required for better performance on the job.

    Earlier, the Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations (TUSIR) Director, Mrs. Omoabie Akpan, welcomed participants and noted  that they were drawn from various departments of the ministry from grade levels 10- 17 because it is expected they should handle dispute.

  • Intending Pilgrim crushed to death in Lafia

    A female intending pilgrim from Nasarawa state, Malama Hafsatu, has been crushed to death by  fuel tanker at the gate of the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Board in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital.

    Late Hafsatu, who hails from Bakin Chiyawa in Qu’an Pan local government area of Plateau State, came to the Muslim Pilgrims Board in Lafia to undertake medical screening ahead of the impending hajj operations.

    Read Also: Police probe Lafia market fracas

    The Public Relations Officer of the board, Abdul-razaq Muhammad, who confirmed the incident said: “the deceased was involved in an accident in front of the office premises of Nasarawa state pilgrims board by a Petrol Tanker while being conveyed on a motorcycle by her husband”.

    He added that the remains of late Hafsatu have been buried at the Muslim cemetery along Almakura street, Lafia, in the Presence of her Husband, the Police and some staff of the board.

     

  • My husband is violent, irresponsible, wife tells court

    A housewife, Martha Matthew, on Thursday, begged a Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State to dissolve her 18-year-old marriage to Simon Audu over alleged  irresponsible behaviour and violence.

    According to her, Audu, who is an applicant for sometime now, has failed in his duties as husband and his attitude toward her has killed the love she had for him.

    She informed the court that she had been living with Audu for 18 years, although her dowry was not paid and the union produced four children, out of which, one is late.

    She alleged that “Audu is irresponsible and a very violent person and does not support me in providing school fees, clothing and proper feeding for the family.

    Read Also: Court remands two men for raping family friend’s daughter

    “Infact, I built the house that we are living presently.

    “He is in the habit of beating and embarrassing me publicly, to the extent that he uses cutlass to chase me round the neighbourhood.”

    The petitioner also told the court that she was no longer interested in the marriage and pleaded that it should be dissolved.

    She also begged for custody of the three children as she pleaded with the court to compel the respondent to vacate the house.

    The respondent, however, denied all the allegations, pleading for time to enable him to discuss and settle issues with his wife.

    The Judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case until April 10 for hearing and consideration of settlement.

    NAN

  • Abductors demand N5m for journalist’s wife’s release

    Suleiman Abubakar,  the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chairman, Correspondents’Chapel, Nasarawa State, has said the gunmen, who attacked him and abducted his wife, Yahanasu, demanded N5 million for her release.

    Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lafia that the abductors on Wednesday evening attacked him, his wife and three other women.

    He said he narrowly escaped from the bus, while the abductors went away with his wife and the other victims.

    He said the women were abducted by the gunmen, following attack on Gudi-Garaku Road in Akwanga Local Government, on their way to Lafia, the capital.

    According to Abubakar, the assailants shot at the union’s bus conveying himself and the victims from Keffi, where his wife had gone to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, at about 7p.m.

    “They called me this morning demanding N5 million in order to secure the release of my wife, however, I told them that I can only afford N50,000 and they said I was not serious.”

    “They also allowed my wife to speak with me on the phone to ascertain that she was alrigh, “ he said.

    “The bus ran into a ditch after being shot at while the gunmen swooped on us but I escaped while they took my wife and the other women.

    “One of the women is a wife of a former State House of Assembly member who they offered free ride.

    Meanwhile, ASP Samaila Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer  for the Police Command in the state, said that the command was working assiduously to secure the release of the victims unhurt

  • Gunmen attack journalist, abduct wife, three others in Nasarawa

    Gunmen on Wednesday attacked Suleiman Abubakar, Chairman of Correspondents’ chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Nasarawa state and abducted his wife, Yahanasu Abubakar.

    Suleiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened at about 7 p.m. along Gudi-Garaku road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

    According to Suleiman, the gunmen shot at the union bus they were travelling in from Keffi, where his wife went to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.

    Read also: ‘No plan to amend Constitution to keep Buhari beyond 2023’

    He said the bus ran into a ditch after being shot at while the gunmen swooped on them, took his wife, the wife of a former state assembly member, who they gave a lift as well as two other women from another vehicle during the attack.

    Meanwhile, ASP Samaila Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said the command had mobilised officers to the area to search and rescue the abducted women. (NAN)