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Tag: Niger State

  • Hoodlums set Redeemed Church ablaze in Niger

    Hoodlums set Redeemed Church ablaze in Niger

    • …Bago, CAN condemn act

    The Redeemed Christian Church of God, the champion zonal headquarters in Kontagora has been set ablaze by hoodlums.

    The incident occured on Saturday morning ten years after the church was burnt by unknown persons who had warned that the church should not be reconstructed in the environment.

    According to the assistant pastor of the church, Pastor Samson Ogbebor, the hoodlums besieged the church around 3 am and burnt down the church adding that the church has been facing threats from u known persons over the years.

    “I got a distress call that our Church was on fire and on getting there, I met a church that has been in existence for the past 20 years being burnt down and properties looted by hoodlums.

    “This church has faced lots of challenges. About 10 years ago, hoodlums came and burnt it down completely and with self efforts we were able to erect it again. They had made several unsuccessful attempts and have refused us the permission to roof it properly and we decided to be using it like that for worship but look at what they have done today again”, he lamented. 

    Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has described the burning of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Kontagora, as mindless and cowardly adding that the act is not only an attack on the Christian community, but also a direct affront to the peace and unity being experienced in Niger State.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Redeemed Church seeks end to killings

    “We totally condemn this act and tell our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as other Niger State inhabitants, that the government prioritizes their safety, security, and freedom of religion. Our state utilizes its diversity and the peaceful coexistence of all religious and ethnic groups. We will not condone this stupid act of violence”, he said in a statement signed by his special adviser on print media, Aisha Wakaso. 

    The governor has directed all relevant security agencies conduct an immediate and complete inquiry into this occurrence assuring that the perpetrators would be found and prosecuted. 

    “The administration will see that those involved are punished to the fullest extent of the law. We urge the people of Kontagora and Niger State to be calm and refrain from revenge or violence. Let us continue to collaborate to preserve the peace and togetherness that define our magnificent state. The government will continue to take all necessary precautions to protect all houses of worship and prevent such a regrettable occurrence from occurring againx, he added. 

    The Niger state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna condemned the incident by the unidentified arsonists describing the incident as barbaric and uncalled for.

    He said it was a painful thing to the Christian community adding that the government need to bring the perpetrators to book.

    “There is freedom of worship in Niger state, I am sure by the time the government and security agencies take action, it will go a long way to address any form of tension that may want to escalate beyond control.

    “We are hoping that the law will take its course. To be frank, issues like this must be tamed and people who have done this should be fished out and made to face the law.”

  • Tragedy reoccurs!

    Tragedy reoccurs!

    •Death of five children in Niger reenacts mishap in Lagos three years ago

    Five children, ages ranged between five and 13 years, suffocated to death in an abandoned vehicle in Niger State after locking themselves in for hours. The tragedy occurred last Sunday in Gurara Albishir suburb of Minna, the state capital.
    Reports said the five children were playing in a large compound before they got into the Honda Civic car that had been parked for over two years and apparently locked themselves inside unwittingly. Their parents and concerned neighbours reportedly began searching for them in the vicinity from about 11a.m. until they were eventually located in the shuttered car – dead – at about 4p.m. Victims involved were four females and a male, with three of them being siblings from the same parents and the two others from different parents, including the owner of the abandoned car.
    Community sources recounted that no one suspected that the children were trapped inside the car until it was too late. “This tragic incident came to us as a rude shock. Imagine losing five children within few hours! It is painful. They got locked up while playing in the car without knowing, and nobody knew they were there for hours,” one of the residents was cited saying. “They might have mistakenly locked themselves up from around 11a.m. while the parents were searching for them, only to discover their dead bodies in the car around 4p.m. after fruitlessly looking everywhere in the vicinity,” another community source narrated.
    Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying the matter was under investigation and the vehicle owner had been invited for questioning. Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, a Superintendent of Police, gave the official account in a statement he shared with the media thus: “On 21/4/2024 at about 6.30p.m., based on information received at Kpakungu division (of the police command), five children of about five to 13 years of age were found trapped in a Honda Civic vehicle with Reg. No. GO 778 ABC at Albishiri area of Minna. They were found to have suffocated in the vehicle, while their bodies were later removed by the various parents as the police visited the scene. However, the owner of the vehicle was invited for questioning, as the unfortunate incident is under investigation.”
    There is a chilling similarity between the Minna tragedy and a similar mishap in December 2021, in which eight children suffocated to death in a parked vehicle in a community on Badagry Expressway, Lagos State. In the Lagos incident, the eight children, ages ranged between four and six years, were suspected to have died from asphyxiation after locking themselves inside a parked Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) within a fenced premises for an uncertain length of time and were unable to get out. That the Minna tragedy occurred with such uncanny replication is indication that society didn’t learn much from the previous incident. For one, that children playing around a neighbourhood got access into a parked vehicle and locked themselves inside without being noticed early enough suggested gross inattention by elderly residents in the community.

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    The tragedy also evidenced the individualistic nature of contemporary society where people watch over only their own narrow interests, leaving little ones untended once they’re out of the sight of their biological parents. In such circumstance, they do not get noticed when they embark on dangerous adventures such as resulted in the horrific Minna tragedy and the one in Lagos some three years before. Society must get more communalistic to ensure better watch care for, and safety of little ones.
    Another sore issue is poor implementation of child protection laws across the country. The hapless children in Minna were most likely on terminal break from school and were making the most of their vacation by catching fun from wild adventures because there is no systemic provision across most Nigerian societies for care of children on vacation. Negligence about care of little ones exposes them to avoidable danger and is making them an endangered species; hence there is need for vigorous implementation of child protection laws in the country.
    Unlike the Lagos incident, police findings on the Minna tragedy should be widely publicised and lessons to learn therefrom highlighted for instruction of society to avert a recurrence.

  • Niger, firm to secure one million food tons

    Niger, firm to secure one million food tons

    Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has sealed a Framework Agreement for Commodities Off-take between Niger Food Security & Logistics, and Tropical General Investments (TGI) to enhance food security and growth.

     The deal, anticipated to stimulate the production of up to one million tons of food annually, will engage over 100,000 farmers cultivating over 100,000 hectares of arable land in the state.

     TGI noted in a statement that the state will spearhead the cultivation, harvesting, aggregation and sales of vital crops, such as paddy, soya beans, maize, and sesame seeds.

     Acting as the Off-taker, TGI Group will assume responsibility for the seamless purchase and transportation of the farm produce.

     TGI Group is a conglomerate encompassing WACOT Rice, WASIL, CHI Pharmaceuticals, WACUB, among others.

    Read Also: FG partners China for new Steel Plant

     Bago described the partnership as historic, adding: “This is history made, not in the making. We have concluded on various pieces of land we have in Niger State. The traditional institutions and the local government system have also been mandated for advocacy. I can assure you in less than three months, we can deliver you from aggregation, even before cropping, in any quantity of whatever you want from Niger State…”

     Mr. Farouk Gumel, vice chair of TGI Group, Africa, added: “This agreement will ensure WACOT is fed with the needs to meet our global orders. We have WACOT Rice Limited – the biggest, single rice mill in sub-Saharan Africa; to produce our premium rice, we need paddy, and Niger will supply us paddy.

     “We have one of the largest poultry businesses on the continent, and Niger is stepping up to ensure we get the maize we need to feed the poultry for the product we produce.

     “… this partnership anticipates production of 600,000 to one million tons of food annually… this initiative will engage over 100,000 farmers cultivating over 100,000 hectares of arable land in Niger. The projected economic influx is staggering, promising over one trillion annually to bolster the state’s economy.”

     The statement noted: “Highlighting the commitment of Union Bank – an institution where TGI Group is a strategic investor – an partner in this venture, an investment of N50 billion is earmarked to commence the collaboration with Niger Foods…’’

    This infusion of capital is set to kickstart production, with the ambitious timeline set for January 2024.” 

    TGI Group said it “welcomes inquiries and requests for further information regarding this landmark collaboration.”

  • Man who set mum ablaze sentenced to death

    Man who set mum ablaze sentenced to death

    A 39-year-old man, Stephen Jiya, who set his mother on fire in December 2021, resulting in her death, has been sentenced to death by hanging.

    Jiya killed his 61-year-old mother, Mrs. Comfort Jiya, a retired director in Niger State Ministry of Education, after accusing her of being behind his wife’s disappearance from home in Suleja, following a misunderstanding.

    The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, who delivered the judgment of culpable homicide against Jiya, said he was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law, which attracts the death penalty.

    Jiya was arraigned before the chief judge on September 14, 2022, while hearing into the case began on November 23, 2022.

    Read Also; Tinubu committed to police reforms, says minister

    Delivering the judgment, Abdulmalik noted that all the evidence and prosecuting witnesses, who testified before the court, were able to prove that the convict was responsible for the death of his mother.

    She added that the circumstances of the sentence of the court upon Jiya was that he should be hanged by the neck, electrocuted, executed, or injected with lethal injection until he is dead, while she declared that he would be hanged by the neck.

    Jiya was arrested on December 20, 2021 by police operatives attached to the G.R.A Division for killing his mother.

    During interrogation, he confessed that he and his wife had a misunderstanding, but when he returned home from work the next day, she had left his home in Suleja to Minna.

    He confessed that he went to his family house because he suspected his mother was behind his wife’s leaving the house and he got a plastic bottle of fuel which he poured on his mother, who was cooking in the kitchen when he arrived and she was roasted.

    Neighbours came to her rescue and took her to the Minna General Hospital where she was referred due to how severe the burns were and she died later in the day.

  • Court remands cyclists ‘killer’ in Niger

    A 30-year-old man Tunde Tayo, who was alleged to have killed a commercial motorcycle operator in Maitumbi area of Minna has been remanded by the Chief Magistrate Court 1 in Minna, Niger State.

    He was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide which contravenes sections 97, 298 and 221 of penal code.

    It would be recalled that the police arrested Tayo for ‘killing’ 25-year-old Abdullahi Sale of Ungwan  Rama.

    The suspect was said to have killed Sale in his uncompleted building along Maitumbi-Shiroro Road and buried his body in a shallow grave near his house. Upon exhumation of the victim’s body, it was discovered that the head had been removed.

    Read Also: Robbers kill two in Niger

    According to the police “First Information Report” read at the court by the head of the Legal Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID), Mr. Jude Thaddeus Akaeze, the suspect conspired with others, who are currently at large, to lure and rob the deceased of his  Bajaj motorcycle valued N215,000.

    The deceased was later killed and buried after he was robbed.

    The pleas of the accused were not taken on the ground that the court is only hearing pre-trial into the matter and ordered for the remand of the suspect in Minna Correctional Centre pending when the police will forward the case file to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.

    The case was adjourned October, 30 for further mention.

  • Robbers kill two in Niger

    TWO people have been said to have died in a three-hour robbery attack in Gwaraka community in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

    A number of people were said to have been injured in the attack.

    The robbers reportedly stormed the community in the early hours of Monday at about 3 am.

    The Nation gathered that they went from house to house beating and robbing the people.

    Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly Hon. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse said residents of the attacked community called him after the robbery.

    “In Gwaraka community in Tafa local government, armed robbers had a field day as they killed two people when they invaded the village,” he said.

    “My people called me, they said the robbers began the operation from 3am and moved from house to house. Two people were killed.”

    Read Also: ‘Why Nigerians, Africans are migrating’

    The Speaker also lamented the lack of security in the community stating that in the raid of over three hours, no security was at hand to help the community.

    “It is not fair that there is no police station in this community. Even the outstation has only two policewomen and what could they have done in a situation like this?”

    “We cannot continue to lose lives resulting from banditry, kidnapping, and robbery. The security situation in the state is getting out of hand and we need to find a way of addressing it.

    “We must stand up as a state to collectively fight this menace, we cannot continue to allow it to happen. Our people cannot continue to suffer and face these problems all the time.”

    The state police command confirmed the attack and the two fatalities.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abubakar Muhammad in a text message to The Nation said an investigation of the incident had begun.

  • How we got bandits to surrender arms – Niger govt

    NIGER State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello on Saturday disclosed that about 27 bandits terrorizing the state have given up banditry.

    Speaking to The Nation, the Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane, said “when we first met with them, they said that they would surrender their arms only if some conditions are made.

    These conditions include the release of thirteen of their members arrested by the security agents. The second was rehabilitation. They said that for a very long time, they have been neglected by the government. They said they were not happy living the way they were living.

    “So we agreed to release the people in our custody and they also agreed to release the people in their custody. That is how we succeeded in making them surrender their arms.”

    Read Also: Insecurity: 27 bandits renounce banditry in Niger

    Matane stated that initiating dialogue is one of the strategies of the nineteen governors of northern Nigeria.

    He disclosed that the dialogue was done with bandit commanders in the forest adding that talks are still on with other bandit commanders in other local government areas in Niger State.

    “Niger has four major local government areas where the bandits operate; Mariga, Rafi, Munya and Shiroro.

    For now, they are cooperating with the government and for some time now there has not been kidnapping through the axis. That shows that our peace pact worked,” he said.

  • Tribunal judgment: No grudge against anyone, says Bello

    Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State on Wednesday says he holds no grudge against any individual or political party that filed petitions against his re-election.

    Bello, who spoke to newsmen in Minna shortly after the election petitions tribunal upheld his re-election, also promised to run an inclusive government.

    The governor added that he would continue to be fair to all parts of the state in the distribution of amenities for the benefit of residents.

    The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Umar Nasko, the PDP candidate in the March governorship election in the state and his party, had dragged the APC candidate, Bello and his deputy Ahmed Ketso, before the tribunal.

    The petitioners alleged that the duo presented forged academic and declaration of age certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission, to contest the election.

    But the tribunal dismissed the petition for lack of merit and evidence.

    Read Also: Buhari gave me N30.8 billion to pay salary arrears- Gov Bello

    Bello in his reaction described the tribunal judgment as “a very fair judgment” and called on people to join hands with him to move the state forward.

    “Like I said after I was declared winner in March, that we should all come together because we are all Nigerlites as I am more concerned about the welfare of our people.

    “The judgment has been passed and I hope we can come together as one because I have no grudges against anyone as I am more concerned about the development of our state,” he said.

    The governor, however, commended the people for giving him their mandate, pledging that everyone irrespective of religion and political affiliations would enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    NAN

  • Workers, students mourn lecturer

    The entire staff and students of the Fati Lami Abubakar Institute of Legal and Administrative Studies (FLAILAS), in Minna, Niger State, have been thrown into mourning following the death of the Dean, School of Administration, Hajiya Fatima Idris Kuta.

    Hajiya Kuta died from complications while giving birth at a private hospital in Minna, last week Wednesdayk.

    The remains of Kuta, who until her death, was the immediate past Head of Department (HoD) of Public Administration, have since been buried according to Islamic rites.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Hajiya Kuta, who was an indigene of the state, was  a doctoral student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    Tributes have continued to pour in from colleagues and students who described the deceased as  friendly, diligent, hardworking, caring and dutiful.

    Provost of the institute Dr Muhammad Aliyu Busa, described the deceased as highly cerebral, considering her academic profile.

    “The news of the exit of our amiable colleague, and dedicated staff was a thunderbolt. Hajiya Fatima Kuta was an unassuming colleague, virtuous woman and an erudite academic with exceptional intellectual pedigree. She was a committed mother at the home front. She was different things to many people who had an acquaintance with her. She was one staff that contributed immensely to the development of Public Administration department, the School of Administration and the institute, at large,” Busa noted while paying a condolence visit to the family.

    “Her humility, simplicity and piety were unrivalled. Most of us, and in fact, all her students have always described her in glowing terms. We have all eulogised her sterling moral virtues even before she answered her creator’s call. I can only urge her beloved husband, and family members to take solace in the fact that she lived a fulfilled and unblemished life,” Busa added.

    In a tribute posted on her Facebook page, a colleague in the Department of Mass Communication, Mrs Maimuna Babangida, described Hajiya Kuta’s death as a colossal loss to her colleagues, friends and students.

    “We will forever live to remember you with genuine fondness,” Babangida began.

    She continued: “You are a disciplined mother to your children, a loving friend to your colleagues, and a principled lecturer to your students. May your soul find tranquil rest in the Lord’s bossom. We may mourn you just for a while, but we can never stop missing you. We can never stop remembering you for the sterling ideals you always stood for, and also exhorted us to imbibe. Adieu my lovely, caring and adorable sister.”

    As for Abubakar Isah, a 200-Level student of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), the reality of Hajiya Kuta’s death only dawned on him after he placed several calls to his friends who all confirmed news of her death.

    Isah, who was a student of the late Dean and graduated from the institute in 2016, said Hajiya Kuta was a teacher who usually inspired them towards success whenever she was in class.

    Isah said: “Mrs Fatima was a caring mentor, and also soft-hearted. She was simple, but a highly-disciplined teacher. Generosity is another virtue she truly personified. The late Dean offered financial assistance to some of her students who were indigents.”

  • IBBUL kicks off paperless administration

    Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai (IBBUL), Niger State, has embraced paperless administration policy to further streamline activities in the university.

    Declaring the workshop with the theme: ‘Paperless office for management staff’ open, the Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammed Nasiru Maiturare urged participants to take the training  serious.

    Maiturare, who was represented by his deputy (Academics), Prof Abu-Kasim Adamu, said the management was committed to conforming with global best practices as obtained in other world-class institutions; hence the need to open a new page as regards administrative functions.

    Maiturare said NYSC scheme has remained one of the harmonising factors among diverse nationalities in the country. He assured of the university’s continued support and meaningful engagement to the benefit of the university and the agency.

    The Director, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Prof Musa Bawa, noted that the workshop was organised to equip staff with the knowledge required for the implementation of e-administration.

    He further said IBBUL ICT has the required workers to facilitate the operation of the university.

    Earlier, while receiving the state Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mrs Fumilayo Ajayi, as well as the management committee of the university, Mrs Ajayi  said the visit was aimed at appreciating IBBUL management for its cooperation and support as well as strengthening the continued ties between the two parties.