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Tag: SOKOTO

  • Petty thieves on the prowl at UDUS

    Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS), Sokoto is often referred to as the ‘most peaceful university in Nigeria’. But it seems no longer so as petty stealing and pickpocketing are rife at the university, MUHYIDEEN KOLAWOLE a 300-Level English Language of UDUS, reports.

    His pale eyes betrayed his sorrow. His room was burgled. The thief made away with his ‘HP black bag’, which contained his clothes and credentials.

    “It was in November,” Usman Abdul Rahman recounted. “We all left the room after 8pm. Some of them (roommates) came back to the room before noon, but I came by 10pm.

    “My roommates noticed nothing, but when I came back and realised that my handouts, which were in the bag, were scattered on my bed, I raised the alarm.”

    Had the thief realised that his credentials were tucked under the bag, perhaps, he would have been kind enough to leave them behind just as he did with the handouts, a sad Usman said.

    Usman lost all his original credentials, including his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) certificate. Also in the bag was a wallet containing the victim’s school’s library, clinic and National ID cards as well  as his ATM card.

    “Where will I start now? Everything has been stolen,” said a distraught Usman.

    Usman, who has reported the matter to the school’s security, is,  optimistic that he would find the documents.

    “If only I could see those documents or the security could help me find them, I would be glad,” Usman said.

    Nurudeen Akeem was another victim.  Unlike Usman, however, he is one of the fresh students in UDUS, and the sudden disappearance of his luggage was, to him, an indication of the state of insecurity on campus.

    A 100-Level undergraduate of Physics, Nurudeen, who has just collected his confirmation letter as a new student, recounted how an unknown person barged into his room, and left with his luggage, which contained his clothes and a wallet.

    Said Nurudeen: ”I saw the bag the previous day (Thursday). We slept with others the previous day and in the morning, which was Friday, we cooked and ate. When it was time for Jumat, I went for my bath. But, to my surprise, upon my return, I couldn’t find the bag again.

    “My credentials were not stolen. I didn’t put them in my bag,” he said adding: “I put them in the brown bag along with my wallet which contains my ATM card.”

    “I only suspect the Yaro boys,” he said after CAMPUSLIFE probed him further on who he suspected.

    Yaro are a horde of uneducated young boys who often run errands for male students and lecturers on campus in exchange for tips or alms. The females are called yarinnya.

    Nurudeen said he, alongside his roommates, once came face to face with a yaro who barged into their room, not knowing they were inside. Seeing them, the invader promptly took to his heels.

    Four days before the incident, Nurudeen was also a target of a pickpocket who made away with his handset when he went to the hostel mini-market to  buy kerosene.

    A fresh student of Medicine, Aliyu Abdullateef, also had his personal effects stolen.

    “I entered library at 11:30am. I dropped my bag where others put theirs. When it was 1:10pm, I came out for prayer. I, then, looked at the spot my bag was kept and saw nothing,” he recalled.

    “Initially, I thought it was moved to another spot, but it later dawned on me that it had been stolen,”  Abdullateef added.

    The bag contained the victim’s confirmation letter, receipts of school fees, Form 02, clinic ID card, hostel clearance, and a new Islamic book.

    “I have been to the University of Abuja and I know the level of security there. But here (UDUS), security is lax. I will advise that the level of security be improved.”

    Fatimoh Balarabe Ibrahim Hostel is one of the female hostels. Not long ago, one of the female residents Rodiyah Omotoyosi had her handset stolen.

    “I forgot to pick up my phone after I finished ablution in the morning. I ran back quickly, but nothing was found,” the victim recounted.

    Omotoyosi, however, could not say specifically if the phone was stolen by fellow female students or a yarinya.

    CAMPUSLIFE checks revealed that there is free movement in or outside the hostel since there is no security official to man its gate.

    Azeezat Oyeleke, a 100-Level Fishery undergraduate, expressed shock over the recurring theft on campus. Azeezat recalled how she was relieved of her handset in the school’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit, the week she was offered admission in UDUS.

    Still engulfed in joy, Azeezat had gone to print her invoice at the ICT unit to enable her pay her tuition.

    She was on the queue with others as instructed by the ICT officials when her phone suddenly ‘screamed’. Realising where she was, Azeezat promptly picked the gadget, answered the caller, hung up and carefully slid the phone back into her hand bag that also contained her credentials.

    And because the queue was long, Azeezat felt the irresistible urge to pick her phone again and chat a few friends up. She then dug her hand inside the bag, and that was when the reality hit her like a thunderbolt.

    “What, my phone!” she shouted in the ICT hall.

    The next voice Azeezat heard was: ‘second time!’ She promptly looked in the direction of the speaker, who turned out to be one of the ICT officials who, alongside other colleagues, had earlier witnessed a similar incident that day.

    “I was told that N30,000 had been stolen from a student that same day,“she said, adding: “If  they had  had a security camera, they would have been able to track the thieves.”

    With repeated cases of burgling at the hostels, CAMPUSLIFE approached some security officers manning the hostels. They, in turn, claimed that even though it is their duty to keep watch over students’ lives and properties, no official complaint had been lodged by any victim.

    Directing the CAMPUSLIFE correspondent to a big exercise book, the Head of Security for the morning section Mallam Abdul Raheem Muhammad, said whoever comes to report cases of theft would be instructed to write his complaint, name, block and admission number in the book, adding that such person would be ‘immediately located’ in case any property related to the report is found.

    Meanwhile, Students’ Union President Ibrahim Kalgo explained the efforts by the SU to tackle the trend.

    “Whenever I’m informed about any theft, I go to the Chief Security Officer (CSO) so that we can find a solution to it,” Kalgo said, lamenting that the SU’s secretary-general’s room was also burgled last session.

    Kalgo assured of the university’s  security officials’ preparedness to address the issue.

    However, the management has  decried the worrying spate of theft, attributing the development to uncontrollable movements of the yaros and yarinyas, poor communication tools and the need for more  security manpower.

    The institution’s CSO, Prof Azeez Abdullahi Yahya Gwandu, said he hasn’t received any report of stealing since this session started.

    Gwandu also confessed there were some bad eggs among the students.

    “They (students) are the most culprits we have caught. They are also stealing one another’s properties. There are bad and good eggs among them,” Gwandu claimed.

    According to him, victims often  fail to report such incidents to security officials.

    “My number is always open for everyone,” the CSO said.

    Gwandu recounted when friends of a dying female student reached out to him at midnight, adding that he immediately rushed down to pick the patient to the hospital. “I made sure that the doctor started to attend to her before I left,” he further explained.

    Gwandu announced that the institution would soon adopt a ‘communication system’, which would enable students to report cases of theft with ease. This gadget, according to him, would have dual purposes. “It will work as radio where you can broadcast and it can be used to call,” he added.

    “The management has also built barriers at all the entrances to the university, which are locked by 8:00pm. Anybody coming to the university after 8:00pm will use the main gate. Two have been constructed and soon the rest will also be done.

    “We also have a joint security meeting, which comprised the DSS (Directorate of State Security) covering this area. From the meeting, we brought many solutions which the vice chancellor approved.

    “We are also about to initiate a jacket for the motorcycle riders, with numbers of identification behind their backs and the UDUS symbol of recognition,” he added.

  • DPR seals 14 fuel stations in Sokoto, Kebbi

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says it has sealed 14 fuel service stations in Sokoto and Kebbi states for selling above control price and suspected diversion of products.

    Mr Muhammad Makera, the Zonal Operations Controller of DPR in charge of Sokoto and Kebbi states, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Sokoto that the sanctions were meted between Wednesday and Thursday, April 10 and 11.

    He said the department had visited 43 fuel selling stations in Sokoto State, noting that three fuel stations were sealed off for selling above control price and one for suspected diversion of the products.

    He added that 69 fuel selling stations were visited in Kebbi State and five were sealed off for selling above control price, two without valid operating licence, while three for suspected diversion of products.

    According to him, 83 trucks of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) were supplied to the three states from Wednesday and Thursday out which 28 were for Sokoto, 47 for Kebbi while remaining 7 were added to Zamfara State.

    The Controller noted that surveillance teams were deployed to monitor proper fuel dispensing according to regulated price.

    Makera said that the surveillance operation was ongoing; adding that part of measures to ensuring adequate availability of fuel sold at regulated price and to caution customers against panic buying.

    He cautioned marketers against flouting government regulations and ensure proper dispensing at regulated price between N140 to N145 per litre.

    The Zonal Operation Controller stressed that government was committed to ensuring  proper supply of fuel to prevent shortage at all times.

    He further warned people against spreading rumors and misinforming people as government did not intend to increase the price and so people should not engage in panic buying.

    “The sealed service stations will remain closed until the owners comply with penalty and all those found wanton would also face similar penalty,” Makera said.

    The Zonal Operation Controller commended the present administration for its efforts in the energy sector and improving the lives of Nigerians and called on people to cooperate for maximum success of its policies and programmes.

  • We’ll reclaim stolen mandates in Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi-APC

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, has faulted the credibility of the recent governorship re-run elections in Bauchi, Sokoto, and Adamawa.

    Nabena alleged that the supplementary elections in the states fell short of the minimum standard.

    He made the observation on Thursday in Abuja while interacting with newsmen, stressing that APC would reclaim its stolen mandates through the election tribunal.

    “In Bauchi, Bala Mohammed was declared winner after a controversial re-run election, in Adamawa, Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the governorship election.

    Read Also: APC chieftain to Saraki, Dogara: steer clear of selection of National Assembly leaders

    “And in Sokoto State, the incumbent Aminu Tambuwal was declared winner with a contestable margin, “ he said.

    Nabena observed that the re-run elections in the states were not conducted in line with laid down rules and regulations of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He added that following a review of the governorship re-run election in Bauchi, Sokoto and Adamawa states, it was evident that the exercise was characterised by massive rigging, thuggery and vote buying.

    “It should be noted that while the APC has over two third of the members of the State House of Assembly in Bauchi and a clear majority in Sokoto State from the governorship election, the re-run was rigged and were conducted without regards to INEC laid down rules and regulations.

    “To this end, the outcome of these re-runs will be challenged at the election tribunals to reclaim our mandates given to us by the people in those states,“ Nabena said.

     

     

  • Fire razes hostel housing corps members in Sokoto

    Mr Philip Enaberue, the Sokoto State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), says no corps member was injured in an early morning fire incident at the NYSC orientation camp on Wednesday.

    Enaberue told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Wamakko that the fire only affected a room housing 20 corps members while they were out for morning devotion.

    He explained that the fire incident was due to electrical sparks, and was quickly put out within 10 minutes by military and other security personnel at the camp.

    Enaberue said no documents were damaged, but that five corps members lost their clothes to the fire.

    Read Also: Sokoto: APC warns Tambuwal, PDP against attacks on supporters

    The Coordinator added that already, the affected corps members had been given new kits and money to replace valuables destroyed by the fire.

    He also said that the affected persons have been relocated to other rooms and all camp activities have continued without disruption.

    He commended the effort of Chairman, NYSC State Governing Board, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, host communities for their concerns over the incident.

  • Sokoto police arrest Nigerien gun fabricator, Alhassan

    The Sokoto state police command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of a gun fabricator, Ibrahim Alhassan.

    Alhassan who was arrested in Runbukawa village in neighbouring Niger republic was found in possession of two locally made Revolver Pistol with 18 rounds of live ammunition.

    In a release issued to press, the command’sr PPRO, DSP Muhammad Sadiq said a team of police patrol attached to Sabon Birni division in Sabon Birni local government on Tuesday arrested Alhassan in possession of two locally made Revolver Pistol with 18 improvised live ammunition.

    According to the police image in the release” Alhassan confessed to have sold two of the revolver pistol at Mailalle village of Sabon Birni LGA, Sokoto state at the rate of N10,000 each and confessed that he is the manufacturer of the said Revolver Pistols.”

    In a related development, the police on Wednesday recovered one Toyota Hilux of Mr. Tabia Muller, Head of Technical section Glo office, Sokoto, who was robbed at gunpoint.

    ” Muller was trapped by three armed men at his residence located at Bafarawa estate in the state metropolitan, which as a result was robbed of his official vehicle.

    ” Upon receive of the information a team of policemen went on a hill of the hoodlums and as a result of hot chase they had no option than to abandon the vehicle and run”, explained the police.

    Read Also: NAF, Police, DSS plan joint action against bandits, kidnappers in Northwest

    Meanwhile, efforts were being intensified to apprehend the hoodlums for possible arrest and subsequent prosecution.

    In the same vein, the police enjoined members of the public to always volunteer useful information that could assist to apprehend suspected criminals in the state.

    The police further assured that the command under the leadership of CP Ibrahim Kaoje will continue to ensure coordinated search and surveillance aimed at protecting lives and properties as well as rid Sokoto state of criminals and reduce crime.

     

     

  • UNICEF to Fed, state govts: recruit more female teachers in North

    The United Nations Children’s Fund has urged the federal and state governments to employ more female teachers in schools in northern Nigeria .

    UNICEF said this will drive girls’ enrolment in schools and eradicate the out-of-school children growing population.

    It stated this during the release of two reports: “Effect of Female Teachers on girls’ enrollment and retention in Northern Nigeria, and C4D Assessment in Basic Education” on Wednesday, in Abuja.

    UNICEF said the effects of female teachers on girls’ enrolment and retention in Northern Nigeria were positive, going by its research reports conducted in eight states in the north.

    Some of the states are; Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Taraba.

    The reports said some schools in urban and rural areas will need to recruit 58,121 females across 17,576 rural schools and an additional 3,775 female teachers across 4,225 in urban schools.

    The UNICEF reports said: “To provide additional perspective on the magnitude of female teacher deficit in both urban and rural areas, we calculate that in the eight states under study, rural schools will need to hire about an additional 58,121 females across 17,576 rural schools and an additional 3,775 female teachers across 4,225 urban schools.

    “This deficit is much more significant in rural schools where on average, each school will have to hire additional three female teachers.”

    Read Also: UNICEF: we’re committed to clean environment in Anambra

    The UNICEF reports also recommended that female teachers being posted to rural areas should be given adequate financial compensation to attract first rate candidates to the teaching profession.

    “One approach that teachers and head teachers have mentioned in this report is that teachers with rural posting must be provided with allowances to compensate for the quality of life discrepancies between living in urban and rural areas.

    “Another recommendation is helping female teachers navigate the societal and gendered expectations of their dual roles as caregivers and professionals. This is critical to increasing the number of female teachers in rural schools.

    “Also like male teachers, female teachers are consistently motivated by the professional development and career advancement opportunities and would likely take positions in rural schools if those positions are available.

    “The historical shortage of educated women in northern Nigeria must be addressed for the long-term to increase the pool of potential female teachers,” the reports added.

  • Sokoto: APC warns Tambuwal, PDP against attacks on supporters

    Sequel to what it described as untoward act of aggression, repression and intimidation by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) hoodlums against its supporters in parts of the state, the Sokoto state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday challenged Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his party to clear the air if they are not the sponsors of the dastardly act.

    APC added; “Anything in the contrary will only go to further confirm that the government is fully behind these dastardly actions and aiding and abetting them.”

    APC further stressed that the PDP administration in Sokoto state owe the peace loving people of the state explanations as to the arbitrary physical assault on civil servants and replacements by PDP hoodlums.

    “Any silence would also confirm our apprehension and due concerns thus APC would be compelled to enforce the rights of its supporters.”

    Addressing an emergency press conference in Sokoto, the state Chairman of APC, Sadik Isah Achida who condemned and lamented over the sad development said the APC in the state remain perplexed and baffled on the nefarious acts meted on its teeming supporters and other electorates who love, cherish and respect the sound and noble ideals of the party.

    “We will not fold our arms and allow such flagrant and dastardly attacks, acts of aggression and intimidation. We will not, even for a second, hesitate in allowing our supporters to use any available means to lawfully defend themselves and enforce their fundamental human rights.

    “Nobody should flagrantly trample on these inalienable rights of our supporters”, Achida vowed.

    In the same vein he explained that the constitution has enshrined some undeniable and defendable rights to any law abiding, bonafide citizen of country. All Nigerians have equal rights and freedom of movement, right to live, right to practice one’s religion, meaningful socio- economic transactions, right to belong to any political party and array of other enforceable rights among others enjoyable by all Nigerians.

    The party chairman further pointed out that despite the PDP peace credentials that filled the airwaves , hoodlums keep parading themselves, caning and flogging people suspected and perceived to be APC supporters, claiming they were cleansing them for integration into the society.

    “It is apt and desirable for the PDP to either confirm its complicity in these atrocities or deny as well bring the obnoxious activities to a halt and take necessary steps to apprehend the perpetrators and charge them to court.”

    According to Achida who raised among other critical questions “is the PDP government in Sokoto aware or not that people is being exorbitantly and arbitrarily levied before they are allowed to conduct commercial activities in our markets in towns and villages across the state? also noted that the people of Sokoto state have equal rights to enjoy all services by the three tiers of government, right to choose any political party and they have entrusted their mandate to the APC gubernatorial candidate but a day light robbery by PDP Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stole the golden mandate which we see as temporary as it would soon be retrieved,” Achida insisted.

    “We are strongly calling on the state government and PDP to urgently call the perpetrators of these heinous attacks to order and doing otherwise is an imminent invitation to anarchy, which would not do anybody any good. A stitch in time saves nine,” Achida cautioned.

  • Army set to flush out bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina

    THE Army 8 Division is set to conduct an internal security-based exercise, code named: “Ex Harbin Kunama IV” in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

    The exercise, which aimed at flushing out armed bandits and insurgents groups from identified forest areas and strongholds, is scheduled to hold from April 1 to June 30, 2019.

    Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the division, Major Clement Abiade, stated in a statement through WhatsApp that the aim of the exercise “is also to bolster the confidence of the people of the region to go about their daily lives unhindered under the security umbrella of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

    Members of the public, according to the statement, were advised not to panic on seeing increased movement of troops, armoured vehicles, equipment and sound of firing arms in the designated exercise and operation areas.

    Read also: We have recorded success against Boko Haram – Army

    Major Abiade added that necessary control measures were already put in place to ensure that no one is harm as a result of the exercise.

    Consequently, a news conference in this regard comes up today at 1 Brigade Conference Hall, (former Government Quarters), off JB Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau, Zamfara State by 1.30pm.

  • Sokoto loses peaceful conduct of elections record- INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner in Charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Hajiya Amina Zakari says Sokoto state has lost its record on peaceful conduct of elections.

    Zakari stated this on Thursday at the issuance of certificate of return to the Governor, Deputy Governor and State Assembly members-elect in Sokoto.

    She said that Sokoto state was popular and known to be one of the most peaceful states when it comes to conduct of elections.

    “Although elections in the Northwest has been generally peaceful must especially in Kebbi and Jigawa states. Sokoto state, however, lost its peaceful election conduct that we know the state for.

    “Unfortunately this year we have incidents that led to the loss of lives in Sokoto state, may the souls of the departed rest in peace,” she said.

    Zakari further called on those that lost the contest to try again in the next elections and those that won to work thoroughly in delivering democratic dividend.

    The state Residence Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, reassured his commitment in ensuring a credible election in the state.

    “We promise to ensure free, fair and credible election in Sokoto state and we have successfully achieved such.

    “Therefore, today we have concluded our responsibility after the issuance of certicate of return to all the state’s elected officials and next is the preparation for the 2023 general elections,” he said.

    In his address Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, after receiving his certificate, promised to run a responsive and all-inclusive government in the state.

    Tambuwal, while thanking the people for giving him another chance to serve the state, commended INEC for ensuring free, fair and credible election in the state.

    He commended the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders for resisting all attempts of intimidations on them during the election.

    All the 16 out of 30 members elected under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress (APC) into the state House of Assembly were absent at the event.

    Read also: PDP, APC all square in Sokoto House of Assembly

    Tambuwal, his deputy Alhaji Mannir Daniya and 14 lawmaker elected under PDP have received the certificates.

    List of Elected Assembly Members were:

    1) Aminu Magaji (APC- Dange/Shuni)
    2) Mustapha Abdullahi (APC- Sokoto South 1)
    3)Malami Ahmed (PDP- Sokoto South II)
    4) Sule Romo (PDP- Tambuwal West)
    5) Mode Ladan (PDP Tambuwal East)
    6)Musa Miko (PDP- Tangaza)
    7) Murtala Maigona (APC- Wamakko)
    8) Aminu Achida (APC-Wurno)
    9) Shehu Yabo (APC- Yabo)
    10) Haliru Buhari (PDP- Sokoto North 1
    11) Ibrahim Arzika (PDP- Sokoto North II
    12) Abdullahi Randa (PDP- Tureta)
    13) Umaru Sahabi (PDP- Binji)
    14) Abubakar Magaji (PDP- Bodinga North)
    15) Bala Tukur (APC- Bodinga South)
    16) Altine Kyadawa (APC- Gada West)
    17) Kabiru Dauda (APC- Bada East)
    18) Mustapha Balle (PDP- Gudu)
    19) Bello Idris (APC- Gwadabawa South)
    20) Abdullahi Garba (APC- Gwadabawa North)
    21) Bello Ambarura (APC- Illela)
    22) Habibu Modachi (PDP- Isa)
    23) Abdullahi Mahmud (PDP- Kware)
    24) Abdullahi Zakari (APC- Rabah)
    25) Almustapha Aminu (PDP- Sabon Birni North)
    26) Saidu Ibrahim (APC- Sabon Birni South)
    27) Alhaji Maidawa (APC- Shagari)
    28) Atiku Liman (PDP- Silame)
    29) Isa Harisu (APC- Kebbe)
    30) Faruku Amadu (APC- Goronyo)
    (NAN)

  • Sokoto APC alleges attack on supporters by PDP

    IRKED and threatened by the wanton and unprovoked attacks on its supporters across the state, the Sokoto state chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on the security agencies to take necessary steps to instantly halt the heinous attacks and bring perpetrators to justice to serve as deterrent.

    ” Unless the security agencies do the needful, they will be putting public confidence in them to jeopardy”, it pointed out.

    In the same vein, the opposition APC in the state also said it had chosen to seek redress for the injustices meted the party in the rerun governorship polls through democratic and legal means.

    While it was watching and expecting that culprits and perpetrators of the attacks were unravelled and made to the full wrath of the law, the party said:” We are aware that security agencies have made some arrests in Tambuwal, Goronyo, Sokoto and other places.”

    In a release signed and issued to reporters in Sokoto Thursday by the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Sadiq Isa Achida, the party also stated that it was compelled to sound caution to the perpetrators and their sponsors that “enough is enough.”

    The party according to the release titled” Enough of the PDP Atrocities in Sokoto” said its desire for peace to reign in the state should not and must not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness.

    ” PDP thugs attacked and killed Sani Aliyu, an APC supporter in Giyawa village of Goronyo local government. Another APC supporter was also attacked in Sifawa, Bodinga local government, now lying unconscious in UDUTH as a result of the physical assault on him.

    ” Highly placed religious clerics were also attacked and their families maimed and injured. Our supporters have become easy targets in their homes, markets, mosques and business premises almost on a daily basis since the declaration of the rerun elections results by INEC.

    ” Our opponents of the PDP should note that they do not have monopoly of the ability to perpetrate violence”, Achida cautioned.

    However, the opposition party in the state which urged its supporters not to react in any way and should continue to be law-abiding citizens, added” we hope that our state will be saved from the danger that could befall our people should those responsible for maintaining peace in our state fail in their duty as we assure our supporters in the state that the party is working assiduously to defend our interest and we are confident of being victorious soon “, the release concluded.