The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger

  • Five killed as armed bandits attack Niger communities

    Armed bandits have attacked 17 communities in Rafi and Shiroro local government areas of Niger state leaving five people dead.

    35 people are suspected to have been abducted as they have been declared missing by the communities.

    This was disclosed to The Nation by the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA).

    According to the NSEMA Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Audu, the attack occurred last Thursday night.

    Audu said that about 3500 are currently displaced adding that the displaced persons are being camped at Kagara central primary school and Pandogari primary school.

    Read Also; Polls shift: Niger APC, PDP, others react

    The Agency said that the state government has provided some palliatives in form of food items and sleeping materials adding that relief materials would be distributed to the affected people within the week.

    Speaking to The Nation, Audi further said, “Nsema have activated the temporal camps with profiling of the affected persons and Health personnel have been deployed to the two camps.

    “The state government has directed provision of all requirements for camp operation”, he said.

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others meet in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday met in Abuja in the party’s caucus meeting.

    The meeting started at the APC National Secretariat around 11.30am when the President arrived.

    Those in attendance included the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole.

    State governors at the meeting included that of Zamfara, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Borno, Bauchi, Kebbi, Niger, Lagos and Kaduna state.

    Read Also: Buhari: no plan to remove INEC Chairman Yakubu

    Also in attendance were the Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan, senators, Secretary to the Government of the Federation(SGF), Boss Mustapha, ministers, among others.

    Discussions at the meeting will not be unconnected with the issues affecting the party, including the postponement of the general elections by a week.

  • Armed bandits kidnap 15, kill nine in Niger

    Armed bandits have killed nine people and kidnapped 15 others in a recent attack in Banda, Malfa and Tunga villages in Kurebe and kwaki wards of Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

    It was learnt that 11 women and girls were raped and injured and are currently hospitalized in critical condition after the attack which occurred over the weekend.

    In a press statement by the Senator representing North East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru, he revealed that last week, several attacks were carried out in some villages across the district.

    According to him, a woman, her daughter and a Royal Prince were abducted at Kwararamai, three persons were killed whilst three others were abducted in Malfa adding that villages like Kwararamai, Jankuta and Marraraban Bataro were also attacked as 17 persons were abducted in one night.

    “It is with a heavy heart and a very sad mood that I issue this statement today on a most callous and brutal armed attack on my good people of Badna, Malfa, Tunga villages and surrounding communities in Kurebe and Kwaki wards of shiroro area within Niger East Senatorial District.

    “I am particularly saddened and shocked at the cruel massacre of nine people of my constituents, the kidnap of 15 innocent people mostly women and girls in an attack in which several others were raped, injured and hospitalized with 11 in critical condition.

    “It is painful to note that this incident which occurred not more than 36 hours ago is just one amongst several other brazen attacks that have been carried out in the area in recent times.”

    The Senator who called for urgent security intervention and sufficient security personnel to be drafted to these villages stated that the areas are no longer safe for the people to live in.

    “These incidents which are still very fresh our memories are quick reminders of the present reality in this area that lives and properties of the inhabitants of these communities are no longer safe. There is, therefore, the need for urgent intervention by security agencies.

    Read Also: NAF kills scores of bandits in Zamfara

    He called on security agencies to give priority again to securing lives and properties of the villagers in order to build on the peace that have prevailed in the area before the gangsters resurfaced recently, “All the Security and relevant Government agencies should focus attention on the worst affected areas in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Government areas.

    “I therefore humbly call on the Niger state Commissioner of Police and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Div. Kaduna to deploy sufficient personnel to the hot spots particularly in surrounding villages in kurebe/Kushaka, and kwaki/chukuba, wards of shiroro local government area of Niger state. Attention should, nonetheless, also be given to areas under serious threats in Munya and Rafi LGAs.”

  • Magu: Looters now stash funds in Seychelles, South Africa, Niger, Ghana

    The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday said looters now stash illicit funds in Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Niger Republic, Morocco and other African countries.

    He said the preferred destinations for looters had traditionally been the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Seychelles, but they are now expanding fast to African countries.

    Magu made the disclosure at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  between EFCC and its Nigerien counterpart, the High Authority Against Corruption and Relating Crimes( HALCIA), in Niamey.

    He said: “From available intelligence and our investigations, it has been revealed that looters from Nigeria now go to Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Niger Republic, Morocco, Seychelles and so on, to stash their loots.

    “This has led to sharp increase in the number of Nigerians buying properties in African countries.

    “Nigerians even go to the extent of changing their names and acquiring the destination countries’ international passports in collusion with corrupt public officers in their countries of residence in order to hide their identities and evade detection,” he said, adding that, “the fight of the EFCC against looters’ safe havens is total.”

    The EFCC boss further disclosed that his visit to Niger was part of his ongoing tour at mobilising international effortsto deny looters safe haven abroad.

    He said: “We have already visited Ghana and Cameroun, today we are in Niger Republic and we will continue to reach out to other preferred looters destinations in Africa and beyond. Interestingly, the efforts of the Nigerian Government to trace, recover and return assets stolen from Nigeria coupled with our increased advocacy to discourage safe havens have begun to yield results.

    “It is my conviction that our collaborative efforts will go a long way in eliminating safe havens. In fact, this is in tandem with renewed global commitment by countries to shut their doors to stolen funds.

    “I also want to call for conscious measures to sanitize and strengthen the legal framework so as to make it difficult for looters to transfer illicit funds to Niger Republic for investment or whatever purpose.”

    Magu called on the global community to redouble its efforts towards strengthening the mechanisms for dismantling safe havens for proceeds of corruption.

    He also called on the international community to ensure the return of stolen funds and assets to their countries of origin.

    According to a statement by the Acting Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Tony Orilade, the MoU will strengthen the collaborative efforts between the EFCC and its Nigerien counterpart.

    Section seven of the MoU captures how the parties will exchange information, including those which are necessary to achieve its objectives.

    According to the section, “The parties will exchange information in accordance with this Memorandum of Understanding in conformity to the relevant laws of Niger and Nigeria relating to the protection of privacy and confidentiality.”

    To help the Commission take its fight against corruption to Nigerians looters who have found safe haven in Niger Republic, Magu made a five-point appeal to the President of Niger Republic, which are as follows:

    (i) Identifying huge cash in the financial system owned by Nigerians to enable us find out if they are looted funds/proceeds of crime.

    (ii) Identifying the numerous properties owned by Nigerians including the details of the owners in order to enable the Commission ascertain if such Nigerians acquired the properties from looted funds/proceeds of crime

    (iii) Stopping moves by persons who plan to move funds at this period through the usual medium to destabilize the political stage in Nigeria.

    (iv) Increased clamp down on Nigerians who are involved in cyber-crime and handing over their details to us for further necessary action.

    (v) Assisting the EFCC in the arrest of persons on the wanted list of the Commission who absconded to Niger Republic due to the free movement granted to citizens of the ECOWAS states.

    The EFCC boss praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the Commission, noting that “Nigeria is ready and willing to partner with international agencies and individual countries on bilateral basis to confront crimes and corruption.”

    While meeting with the parliamentarians, at the Assemblee Nationale, Magu told the second Vice President, Mohamadou, that, there was the need to rework existing legislations in Niger to help strengthen anti-corruption fight in the country.

    He also noted the need for the country to domesticate the United Nation’s Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) in order to make its meaning and impact bear on the lives of the country’s citizens.

    While decorating the Nigerian Ambassador to Niger Republic, Ambassador Haliru and all the embassy staff with the EFCC lapel, Magu urged them to acknowledge the anti-corruption fight as a collective one.

    “Whether you are at home in Nigeria or in the Diaspora, you need to make your contribution. Add your voice to the crusade against corruption. The fight is real. Don’t also forget that corruption is fighting back, but together, we shall win,” he said.

    Ambassador Haliru, in turn, praised the EFCC boss for his zeal and passion for the job. “We are hearing and seeing all your achievements in the fight against corruption. We are praying to God Almighty to give you good health and long life to confront the corrupt”.

    For the President of HALCIA, Abdourmane Gousmane, there is no better time than now for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Niger Republic in the fight against corruption.

    “We are ready and willing to partner with Nigeria. Nigeria has the experience and the human capacity and with President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a renowned anti-corruption icon, we have no choice than to leverage on Nigeria for capacity building in taming the corruption monster,” Gousmane said.

    One of the side attractions of the visit was Gousmane’s presentation of a horse as a special gift to Magu.

  • 2019: IDPs won’t vote in Niger – INEC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Niger state, Professor Sam Egwu has disclosed that there will be no Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) voting in Niger state because INEC does not recognize any IDP camp in the state.

    Egwu stated this while interacting with newsmen at the Niger state INEC office in Minna.

    He declared that INEC did not include Niger state among the states captured for IDP voting adding that no preparation had been done to that aspect.

    “IDP voting will not take place in Niger state. We have never recorded any official IDP camp in the state, so none has been recognized so far. Those who were said to be displaced have returned back to their homes where they can vote. ”

    Read Also: INEC commences deployment of sensitive, non-sensitive materials to states

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner then said that only 6,436 out of 22,839 who requested for transfer of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) had collected their PVC calling on others to ensure they collect their PVC before the close of collection by INEC.

    He added that there are over 2.39 million eligible voters in Niger state who are expected to vote on the forthcoming elections.

    He declared the preparedness of INEC in the state to conduct the forthcoming elections adding that they are gradually overcoming the logistical challenges they envisage may crop up.

  • APC suspends BOT member over statement against Bello

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Niger state has suspended one of the Board of Trustees (BOT) members Alhaji Abubakar Magaji over a derogatory statement against Governor Abubakar Bello.

    Magaji is a member of the Board of Trustees in the state and one of the founding fathers who led the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form APC.

    In a statement by the party’s secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Liman in Minna on Thursday, Magaji was accused of making derogatory statement during a meeting chaired by the Governor on Monday.

    According to the statement, Magaji when speaking asked: ‘Who is Party?’ a question which members termed as embarrassing to the Governor.

    Read Also: Kwara: I’m the APC candidate known to INEC, says AbdulRazaq

    “This derogatory statement in the view of the Party (APC) as embarrassing and has brought it into hatred, contempt, ridicule and disrepute which offends Article 21 (A) (II) of the Party constitution (2014) as amended.”

    The party further stated the State working committee has set up a 5- man committee to investigate the matter and recommend appropriate sanctions.

  • Osinbajo chairs NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presided over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting which will deliberate on the minimum wage request, among other issues, started around 11.26am when Osinbajo arrived the Council chamber.

    After rendition of the National anthem, opening prayer was offered by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong.

    Read Also: We’ve credible plans to get Nigerians out of poverty, Says Osinbajo

    Among state governors in attendance included Lagos, Zamfara, Adamawa, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger, Ekiti, Bauchi,

    Among the deputy governors in the hall included Nasarawa and Ogun.

    Also in attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

    Others at the meeting included Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefuele.

  • Osinbajo’s visit: Police ready to provide security in Niger

    The Police Command in Niger is fully ready to provide adequate security before, during and after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to the state on Saturday, Jan. 12.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Dibal Yakadi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Minna on Friday.

    Yakadi said that an effective operational order on how to provide security at each of the places that the Vice President was expected to visit had since been issued to the officers deployed for that purpose.

    He said that the command had taken concrete security measures to ensure a peaceful visit.

    ‘’We have mobilised sufficient armed personnel to provide security cover for our Vice President before, during and after the visit,’’ Yakadi said.

    The commissioner also said that the command had already embarked on “Operation Show Force’’ with other security agencies to show our preparedness for the visit.

    He explained that the measures were aimed at giving the residents of the state the opportunity to welcome the Vice President without any security threat.

    The commissioner advised leaders of political parties in the state to impress it on their supporters to shun all forms of violence and thuggery before, during and after the Vice President’s visit.

    Read Also: Police declare 12 more wanted over Alkali’s death

    Yakadi said: “We will not tolerate any act capable of bringing confusion before, during and after the visit.’’

    He warned that any person or groups found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.

    The commissioner said that during the Vice President’s visit, the TraderMoni Scheme of the Federal Government would be introduced to traders at Gwari and Tunga markets in the metropolis.

    According to him, the visit will also afford the Vice President the opportunity to flag off the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship campaign.

    NAN reports that the Federal Government’s TraderMoni scheme is a collateral-free loan to traders, that ranges from N10,000 to N50,000, depending on how well the borrowers are able to make repayments.

  • Hoodlums attack Atiku campaign office

    Suspected hoodlums on Wednesday invaded the campaign office of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    Sources said they scaled the fence of the office located beside the Federal College of Agriculture (FECA) on Ijapo road in Akure and allegedly vandalised the billboards of PDP candidates.

    The Personal Assistant to the State Coordinator of the Atiku Presidential Campaign Olumide Ogunkua confirmed the attack in Akure, the state capital.

    He noted the hoodlums after entering to the compound of the campaign office began to chant the APC slogan of “Next Level” and destroying the posters bearing Atiku /Obi for 2019 president.

    According to him, the security guard in the compound was assaulted by the hoodlums for challenging their mission in the PDP campaign office.

    Ogunkua said: “We got a call from one of our sympathisers that the new billboards, banners and posters in front of our campaign office have been vandalized.

    “Upon receiving the call, we arrived at the office and we saw that the all the banners and posters of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had been removed while some were defaced.

    Read Also: Police teargas and disperses PDP crowd in Jigawa

    “Upon entering the premises, we discovered that the security guard was tied up and his two phones were taken away.

    “When we inquired from him what really happened, he told us that he heard people destroying the banners and he shouted but the hoodlums jumped over the fence and held him hostage before they continued to perpetrate their dastardly act.

    “According to the security guard, the hoodlums were shouting the next level when they were destroying the bill boards and banners.

    “This is unacceptable, we call on the appropriate authorities to put a stop to these unwarranted attacks because if not it will put a threat to the peaceful conduct of the general election come February 2019.”

    He said the presidential campaign council of Ondo State has taken it up while the Inspector General of Police and the Director of SSS would be formally informed.

    The APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Alex Kalejaiye condemned the attacked but denied all the allegations.

    Kalejaiye said APC government does not discriminate irrespective of political affiliation.

    He said: “We are so confident of our victory come February 2019, so we won’t have any reason whatsoever to attack any party or their facilities.

    “The state government under the APC controls signage agency that moderates activities of setting of billboards which is the signage agency and it collects revenue.

    “So, why do you think we would now sponsor anyone or group to destroy what brings in revenue in the state government’s purse?

    “We would never encourage such. If anybody is pointing accusing finger at the APC, the person is doing it out of either frustration or ignorance.”

    Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Femi Joseph,a Superintendent of Police, when contacted said the incident occurred at the Ijapo divsion of the command but he was yet to be briefed at the state command

  • Black first Friday for Minna traders

    Traders at the Kure Ultra-modern Market in Minna, the Niger State capital, started the new year started on a bad note. Fire gutted about 70 shops and burnt goods worth more than N700 million. JUSTINA ASISHANA reports

    For traders of the Kure Ultra-modern Market in Minna, the new year started on a bad note. Fire gutted about 70 shops and burnt goods worth more than N700 million.

    The inferno on the first Friday in the year was a rude shock to the traders at a time the market was just kicking up from the Christmas and New Year break. It was a black Friday, especially for traders of clothing materials, palm oil and groundnut oil.

    Chima Sylvia Njokwu, a trader in female and children wears, shoes and bags whose two shops were affected, said he was just returning to Minna with his family after spending the Christmas in his village when he heard the news about the fire.

    “I was on my way coming back after spending Christmas in the village when I heard the news of the fire. I was told all electricity has been out off and my mind was put to rest. After three hours, I received another call that my shop was burning. I fainted right away and was revived with water. I was the one driving, I could not drive again. The people around where I parked found someone to drive me down to Minna.”

    Njokwu said he had goods worth over N10 million, including the money in his safebox. They all got burnt in the inferno.

    He said in pidgin: “Pin dem no even fit commot from this shop; I am still dazed, still thinking it is a dream. I returned from abroad last year and my goods which I brought there arrived during Christmas and we have not even sold everything. Where will I start from?”

    Njokwu asked for help from government and well-meaning individuals as he has family to feed and clothe.

    Mrs. Samson Ezeagu, a trader in lace materials, wrappers and head ties, who also doubles as a tailor, lost goods worth N1.5 million to the fire.

    “I was at home when my neighbour called me and told me that our line was burning but before I got here, nothing was remaining, I could not rescue any of my goods neither could I rescue either of my three machines or the clothes I collected from customers to sew.”

    The inferno, The Nation learnt, began at 6 am on January 6 when a tea and noodles seller popularly cake ‘Mai Shayi’ left his stove on and went for an early morning prayers leaving the fire unattended to.

    It took some hours before men of the fire service were able to contain the raging fire from consuming shops. Another part of the market was ignited at about 11 am. This started from a locked shop. It took additional two hours before the fire was put out.

    The fire, which started from the line where palm oil was sold, extended to the clothing and cosmetic line. Many traders tried to rescue their goods from the fire while sympathisers were trying to console others affected and threatening to jump into the fire to rescue what was left in their shops.

    Salisu Mohammed said he lost N60 million to the fire. He wondered how he would feed his family and pay his creditors.

    “We lost a lot in this fire. I could not rescue anything from my shop but I know that that is the way God wants it this year. We need help. I have lost over N60 millon in this fire. I want help because I do not know how to go about it. I don’t know what the family will eat. I need help and nothing else.”

    The Chairman of the Kure Market, Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed, was one of the affected traders who lost the most to the inferno. Mohammed, who is one of the major dealers of palm oil and groundnut oil, said he had just brought in a trailer load of oil the night before the incident.

    “I cannot say the quantum of the loss because I just received a trailer load of oil and there were a lot of gallons of oil in the shop before the order of trailer. My records books also got burnt in the shop and I have not yet settled down to take stock.

    “The sad thing is that half of these goods were brought on credit; now we have to think of of how to pay back because there is no explanation we will give that the supplier will accept.”

    He called on government to  help the traders.

    “We plead with government to assist us either in cash or kind because this is where we feed our families. Today, we have nothing because we could not rescue anything from the fire,” he said.

    In 2016, fire gutted a part of the market containing 48 shops. Traders selling textiles, sewing materials and sewing machines were affected.

    Governor Abubakar Sani Bello described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the government would investigate the cause  to militate against future occurrences.

    He called on the traders, especially those wh cook inside the market, to be more cautious. He said the situatiion would be reviewed for possible  palliative to cushion the effect of their losses.

    “It will be a long time for the traders to recover but we will see what we can do to help them. The government will assist in the way it can to reduce the hardship and pains of the incident.” he said.