The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa

  • MFM stars vow to beat Nasarawa again

    MFM stars vow to beat Nasarawa again

    MFM FC midfielders Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Onuwa Chukwuka Emmanuel have said they hope to restart top-flight action on a winning note against Nasarawa United today at the Agege Township Stadium.

    The first leg of this fixture saw MFM FC claiming the maximum three points with a 2-1 victory over the Lafia-based team at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi.

    “We want to start the second stanza of the league on a winning note and we need to continue our great performance. We are gunning for the maximum three points against Nasarawa United FC to start with,” Ifeanyi Ifeanyi said.

    Onuwa said: “We shocked Nasarawa United in the first leg so expectedly, this game will be a difficult one because they will be coming for  revenge, but we will defeat them because the three points at stake are very important to us to give our fans something to cheer as we begin the second round of the league.”.

    ‘The Olukoya Boys’ are 10th on the table with 27 points halfway through the season.

  • Osadiaye: Nasarawa win was tougher than Pillars

    Osadiaye: Nasarawa win was tougher than Pillars

    • Targets NPFL and champions league titles

    Joseph Osadiaye has rated Enyimba’s hard earned win against Nasarawa United at the weekend tougher than the club’s first ever win in Kano against Pillars in week 7.

    The Aba Elephants wrapped up the first stanza of the Nigerian Professional Football with a 1-0 win over the Solid Miners courtesy a brilliant freekick from Super Eagles left-back Chima Akas.

    “I’m delighted with our win over Nasarawa United,” Osadiaye told SportingLife. “It was a tough game even harder than our away win against Kano Pillars (Enyimba won 2-1).

    “It just continues to show the quality in our league and I’m happy that we are grinding out results.”

    The former Warri Wolves winger then revealed the Aba Elephants ultimate target for this season.

    “We hope to win both the domestic League and CAF Champions League at the end of the season,” he added.

    “The team have been working hard and unity is key for us as we see ourselves as brothers and not rivals.

    “Enyimba is blessed with quality players and I’m confident we can do great things together.”

    Enyimba currently have 27 points after 19-round of matches and could shoot themselves to the top of the log if they win their three outstanding games.

  • Enugu, Agatu, Nasarawa killings criminal, says Sultan

    Enugu, Agatu, Nasarawa killings criminal, says Sultan

    Sultan of Sokoto and President-General,  Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has described the killings during attacks on communities of Agatu in Benue state, Nnibo in Enugu State and some parts of Nasarawa state as a crime and urged the government to bring perpetrators to justice.

    He called for a thorough investigation by appropriate security agencies into the killings in order to fish out the evil perpetrators and forestall re-occurrence.

    Sultan Abubakar made his view known in a statement signed by JNI Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu. He said: “Crimes are abominable and whoever commits them is a criminal.”

    He lamented that certain groups or people ascribe the killings to ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria.

    The statement said: “Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) received with great shock and deep concern the news of incessant killings and maiming of innocent lives and the destruction of public and private properties. Of particular concern are the brutal murders of people in Agatu-Benue state, Nnibo-Enugu state and some parts of Nasarawa state. It is indeed alarming that within few weeks, deadly attacks were reportedly unleashed while the perpetrators go un-arrested.

    “JNI therefore condemns in strong terms these repeated heinous attacks and once again calls on the relevant security agencies to brace up to the trends, in order to put a stop to this ugly tide, as human lives are sacred and must be seen to be treated as so.

    “JNI and indeed all Nigerians, view the fall out of these repeated attacks, particularly the taking up of arms against other citizens as another trend of insecurity that portends grave danger to the Nation. We must not forget so soon the adverse effect of the so called Boko Haram group, that claimed the lives of many thousands innocent lives.

    “Hundreds have been abducted, the males forced into insurgency and the females into slavery. Millions more are wallowing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Nigeria and in Refugee Camps in neighbouring countries. Public and private properties worth trillions of Naira have been destroyed.

    “We therefore call for a thorough investigation by appropriate agencies in order to fish out the evil perpetrators, bring them to justice and forestall re-occurrence. The repeated heinous acts of attacks are crimes against the citizenry and the perpetrators are therefore criminals and must be treated so.

    “It is indeed absurd and most unfortunate that certain groups or people ascribe the incidents on ethnic and/or religious premise and to whimsically apportion blame in order to batter the gradual restoration of peace and security in Nigeria. Well, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State has debunked the rumours, likewise the Inspector General of Police has also debunked the insinuations over those being blamed.

    “We must thus be cautious of packaging crimes on religious and ethnic garments. Crimes are abominable and whoever commits them is criminal. Security agencies should brace up in being proactive and utilize maximally intelligence reports in order to nip-in the bud possible eruptions of security problems within and around communities.

    “Painfully, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General, JNI, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on behalf of Nigerian Muslims, condoles the families of those who lost their lives and sympathies with all affected victims, and also calls for concerted introspection and commitment by relevant agencies to take proactive and effective measures in addressing this pernicious problem.

  • Gunmen kill 20 persons, 83 cows in Nasarawa

    Gunmen kill 20 persons, 83 cows in Nasarawa

    Gunmen at the weekend killed 83 cows at Adayi in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

    At Loko, the monarch claimed that about 20 people have been killed by gunmen in the last few weeks.

    The killings were suspected to be reprisals by gunmen who crossed over from Benue State.

    Although security agencies have stepped up investigation, the Fulani leader of Adayi area of Loko, Mallam Bideri Ahmadu, alleged that suspected Agatu gunmen from Benue State might be behind the killings.

    The traditional ruler of Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo, alleged that Agatu youths might have perpetrated the act.

    The Fulani community leader, Mallam Bideri Ahmadu, who addressed reporters in Loko, alleged that Agatu youths crossed over from Benue State about 10:30am last Saturday.

    He said the suspects had wanted to “rustle the cows in their boats across River Benue, but the cattle went berserk because of sporadic shootings.”

    Ahmadu said:  “Upon realising they could not achieve their aim, the Agatu youth opened fire on the cows, killing 83. The injured ones are in the bush.”

    The Mai Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo, said in the last few weeks, over 20 men, women and children were killed during attacks on Fulani people by Agatu youths from Benue State.

    He said the Loko Development Area has only two police officers with no rifles and appealed for more security presence.

    Sabo urged the Fulani not to retaliate because the government was looking into the crisis.

    The Director of Personnel Management (DPM) of the development area, Danlami Umar, said the “fishing community has suffered a setback because the riverine area has been taken over by Agatu youths, who kill at will.

    Police spokesman Ismaila Numan said the Nasarawa Division received a report of the killing of 83 cows by suspected hoodlums and investigation had started.

    A security source said: “There has been tension in the area since the killing of more than 300 people in Agatu area of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    “We are suspecting reprisals by Agatu youths who do not want Fulani herdsmen in their area again.

    “The crisis between the Fulani and the Agatu is posing a threat to life and property in the two states.

    “Nasarawa and Benue governments have to step into the incessant clashes between the Fulani and the Agatu.”

  • Nasarawa Utd drub Giwa 3-1

    Nasarawa Utd drub Giwa 3-1

    A brace by Abdulrahman Bashir and a goal by Aminu Kadir were enough for Nasarawa United to record only their second win of the Nigeria league season against Giwa in Makurdi Wednesday.

    Giwa consolation goal was by Aminu Mbai after half an hour. Nasarawa stay rooted at 19th position with nine points from as many matches, while Giwa are 10th on 14 points.

    Six minutes from time, Charles Henlong saw his goal-bound effort crash against the post as Giwa piled on the pressure to rescue the game.

  • Skye Bank, Nasarawa partner to block financial leakages

    Skye Bank, Nasarawa partner to block financial leakages

    Skye Bank Plc and Nasarawa State government are partnering in the implementation of a biometric and verification  that would save the state N990 million annually from financial leakages.

    The bank’s Executive Director, Abuja and Northern Directorate, Idris Yakubu, who disclosed this at the weekend in Lafia while presenting the report of the biometric and verification to Governor Umaru Al-Makura, said the exercise would save the state about N82.5 million monthly.

    Yakubu said the report, when implemented, would go a long way in blocking leakages and save funds that can be applied to initiatives and ventures that will help create more job opportunities for youths in the state.

    According to the bank director, the recommendations in the report would be useful in the effective management of the scarce resources accruing to the state. “This project, Your Excellency, is a demonstration of the commitment of Skye Bank Plc in supporting the socio-economic development of Nasarawa State and the government of His Excellency, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura,” Yakubu said.

    He gave the objectives of the exercise, which involved all workers of the state and local government areas, the state Universal Basic Education Board employees and pensioners, to include the verification of all persons on the state payroll, capture the basic biometric details of civil servants and workers including the pensioners.

    Responding, Governor Al-Makura thanked Skye Bank for a good job and promised that the report would be implemented to block leakages and stop wastages in public expenditure.

  • 11 LGAs Sole Administrators named in Nasarawa

    Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has approved the appointment of Sole Administrators in 11 out of the 13 local government areas in the state.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Aliyu Tijani-Ahmed, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and made available to journalists on Saturday in Lafia.

    According to the statement, the appointment followed the expiration of the tenure of office of the 11 local government chairmen on March 24, 2016.

    “By virtue of the expiration of their tenure on March 24, the eleven LGA chairmen stand dissolved hence the need to appoint sole administrators in order not to have a vacuum at the LGAs,” it stated.

    The statement said that the state government invoked the “doctrine of necessity’’ to avoid vacuum at the LGAs pending the conduct of council elections in the state.

    It explained that the tenure of office of chairmen of Keana Local Government Area and Keffi Local Government Area would expire in November, 2016.

    The statement listed the new sole administrators as Kwanta Yakubu, Akwanga LGA; Hashimu Chada, Awe LGA; John Nash, Doma LGA; Eya Yinallah, Karu LGA; Musa Namo, Kokona LGA and Ahmed Sulieman, Wambai-Lafia LGA.

    Others are Mr Ayuba Usman, Nasarawa LGA; Akolo Ahmed-Success, Nassarawa-Eggon LGA; Hajia Sahadatu Alituhu, Obi LGA; Musa Oyineyi-Mohammed, Toto LGA and Musa Shaibu, Wayu-Wamba LGA. (NAN)

  • Nasarawa gov dissolves LG Councils

    Nasarawa gov dissolves LG Councils

    Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday  dissolved the management of all Local Government Councils in the state.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed, said through a statement in Lafia, the state capital, that the dissolution of the councils followed the expiration of the tenure of the chairmen on Thursday.

    He directed the affected council chairmen to handover their official vehicles at the Government House with immediate effect.

    The statement also directed the chairmen to hand over other government property in their possession to the Directors of Personnel Management at their respective councils.

    The  State High Court had on Wednesday in Lafia dismissed the suit filed by the sacked council chairmen seeking elongation of their tenure from two to three years.

  • Nasarawa United praise Generation Foot

    Nasarawa United praise Generation Foot

    Nasarawa United  players and officials including accompanying officials have praised the officials of Generation Foot of Senegal and the Senegalese FA for being on hand to welcome them when they arrived Dakar for Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round second leg tie.

    The Solid Miners left Nigeria on Tuesday and arrived Senegal 1am yesterday ahead of the weekend cracker in Dakar.

    The Chairman of Nasarawa United, Isaac Danladi told SportingLife that the Lafia side are in high spirits and have vowed to protect the 2-1 advantage to prove doubters wrong.

    He said he addressed the players and officials before departure and that he told them that there shouldn’t be any slip up in Dakar and that they have promised to be at their very best on Saturday.

    Danladi further told SportingLife that they were well aware that the match would be played on an artificial surface and that they prepared the mindset of the players towards that.

  • Nasarawa crisis: Lawmaker cautions against reprisal attacks

    Member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Mohammed Udege-Okpoku on Tuesday cautioned his constituents against reprisal attacks or using of arms against one another in the interest of peace.

    Udege-Okpoku, member representing Udege/Loko constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, gave the advised during a meeting with stakeholders at Ogufa community in Loko Development Area of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the community was attacked by unknown gunmen two weeks ago where several lives were lost and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

    The lawmaker decried the loss of lives and property, calling on the community to be law abiding.
    He urged the residents to continue to report their grievances to appropriate authorities for necessary action.

    “I came to this community to see for myself what really happened, the level of destruction; but it is unfortunate and uncalled for that people who live together take up arms against each other; such act must be condemned by all.

    “Now that the community has been attacked by unknown gunmen and the perpetrators of the evil acts are yet to be known, I will do my best to report the matter appropriately to the government so that the perpetrators are arrested and must be brought to book.

    `I want to advise you and other communities against reprisal attacks and you should continue to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of your ethnic, religious and political affiliation.

    “I also want to advise you against inflammatory statements capable of fuelling another crisis as no nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion,” he said.

    According to him, peace is priceless and non-negotiable and is the necessary requirement for the development of any society, hence the need for people of the diverse ethnic and religious and political groups to embrace it.

    Besides, he called on Nigerians to be law abiding, respect constituted authority and always report their grievances to the appropriate authority in the interest of peace and national development.
    Responding, Mr Ishekpa Akumuson, the Osu Ogufa of Ogufa community, commended the legislator for the visit towards ascertaining the level of destruction visited on the communities by unknown gunmen.

    The community leader noted that his people have been living in peace and wondered why unknown gunmen attacked the community.

    NAN reports that the lawmaker also had a peace meeting with Pastors and Imams from his constituency at Mararaba Udege where he stressed the need for peaceful and harmonious co-existence among adherents of the two major religions.