The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yobe State

  • Borno, Yobe cholera-free

    Borno and Yobe States have declared closures of cholera outbreaks without any recorded suspected case since December 4 and 14, 2018.

    Announcing the outbreak closures on Tuesday in Maiduguri and Damaturu, the Commissioners of Health, Drs. Salihu Bura and Muhammed Kawuwa said they have not recorded any new cases of cholera for two weeks.

    Bura, who was represented by permanent secretary, Ministry of Health, Alhaji Bukar Allau said: “It is almost four weeks since the last case was reported in Borno state. The last case was reported on December 14, 2018,

    “When the number of suspected cases significantly declines and all samples from suspected cholera tested are negative for two weeks, the outbreak is considered controlled.

    “Hence, we hereby officially declare the end of cholera outbreaks in Borno and Yobe states.”

    According to Dr. Kawuwa, the Yobe commissioner for Health who was also represented by the Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Mohammed Gana, informed there had been no suspected cholera case, since December 4, 2018.

    Allau said Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere and Ngala councils contributed 80 percent of suspected cholera cases in Borno while the remaining cases were reported in 12 council areas of the state.

    Read Also: Borno disburses N200m bursary

    In Yobe, Dr. Gana said:  “As it stands today (Tuesday), 1,813 cases of cholera have been recorded with 61 associated deaths, giving a Case Ratality Rate (CRF)  of  3.36%.

    “Up to 591 cases were recorded in Gulani, 485 in Gujba and 489 in Damaturu council. There were 248 reported cases in Fune and Potiskum Local Government Areas of 181 and 67 respectively.

    “Most of the deaths recorded, though painfully occurred in Gulani, Gujba and Fune LGAs and were primarily due to delays in untimely reporting to health facilities to receive quality care,” Dr. Gana said.

    He said most of the deaths recorded in the councils, were due to delays in timely reporting to health centres for treatment.

    Dr. Gana noted the  commitment of state government and technical support of World Health Organisation (WHO) have mobilised human and capital resources  in full scale response to end further outbreaks and spread of the water borne disease.

  • Boko Haram: Don’t panic, Gaidam tell communities

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has urged communities affected by recent Boko Haram attacks not to leave their ancestral homes, assuring them of safety.

    According to the governor, in a statement by his spokesman, Abdullahi Bego, security agencies are working very hard to keep those communities and the entire state safe from insurgents’ attacks.

    The statement added that Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam is particularly worried that people Kukareta, Bunigari and Katarko are leaving their communities for fear of being attacked by the insurgents, despite that fact that he also shares with those concerned.

    Read Also: NAF neutralises scores of bandits in Zamfara

    Gaidam said he has been fully briefed by security chiefs in the state and measures taken to curtail the threats.

    According to the governor: “Following recent incidents involving Boko Haram terrorists in Kuka Reta, Katarko and Bunigari towns of the state, the Yobe State Government wishes to draw the attention of the public in the affected areas and all across the state to the heightened and continued effort of the military and other security agencies to ensure peace, security and the safety of people throughout the state.

    “The Yobe State Government therefore urges that the public remains calm and vigilant.

    “The call becomes necessary following reports that some people in the affected areas were leaving their communities for other areas due to security concerns.

    “While those concerns are understandable, the Yobe State Government urges that people should not panic or leave their communities.

    “In meetings with heads of security and law enforcement, His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has been briefed about the range of efforts that are underway – by the military and all the security agencies on the ground – to approach and contain any threats to security in the state.

    “The Yobe State Government therefore assures that the public can remain confident that those measures are intense and comprehensive and that everything necessary is being done to ensure public safety.

    “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam wishes to extend his deepest appreciation and those of the Yobe State Government to the people for their continuous cooperation with the military and other security agencies, a measure that has resulted in huge security gains at various times.

    “The governor therefore urges the people to sustain and build on this level of cooperation and continue to report to law enforcement if and when they notice anything suspicious in their communities”.

    The Nation reports that Kukareta, Bunigari and Katarko have suffered heavy attacks from the hands of Boko Haram.

    The attacks have recorded the killing of many Nigeria soldiers within a very short time.

  • Gender equality: Gaidam endorses HeForShe campaign

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam  on Thursday endorsed ‘HeForShe’,  a  global campaign for gender equality and campaign against women and girls.

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam  was represented at the occasion which was held at the amusement park of Open University of Nigeria, Damaturu.

    The event was organized  by the Yobe State Ministry of Women Affairs and UN Women, in partnership with Search for Common Ground, and with funding support from the Government of Japan.

    While pledging his commitment, the governor said apart from the previous support for women, his administration will not relent in the course of supporting women.

    Governor Gaidam was later decorated as a HeForShe, making history as the 4th governor and the state government to sign up for the HeForShe camapaign  after Adamawa, Gombe and Plateau States.

     In her remarks, Mrs Comfort Lamtey,  the Country Director, United Nations Women represented by Mrs  Lillian Unaegbu  announced that Yobe is the forth state after Plateau, Adamawa and Gombe, stressing that the campaign was  meant to mobilize men and boys to be advocates  by creating awareness on gender-base violence that results to physical, sexual or psychological harm to women and girls

    She noted that  “At least one in every five of the world’s female population has been physically or sexually abused at some time” and this calls for concern.

    Read Also: Yobe APC divided over Gaidam’s choice of successor

    UN Women  thanked Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam for allowing women to hold positions in his government and for the campaign to hold in Yobe.

    The HeForShe lunch in Yobe attracted   over 150 stakeholders drawn from different sectors including Traditional Leaders, the  Police,  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Media and other men commit to be Gender Champions by promoting gender equality and women empowerment, at all levels.

    the Police Commissioner, Abdulmaliki Sumonu at the event  disclosed that  the signing of State Penal Code Amendment Law 2018 which prescribed  punishment for rape, kidnapping and unnatural offenses has led to the drop of rape cases drastically in the state.

    Most of the invited dignitaries were   recognized and decorated as HeForShe advocates in the State with Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam as the number one HeForShe advocate in the state.

  • Buni Gari attack: More dead soldiers recovered, others still missing

    Two more dead soldiers have been recovered from the Saturday night attack on a military location at Buni Gari in Yobe State, a security source has revealed.

    The source also informed that some soldiers are still missing following the attack which he described as “very bad”.

    A hospital source has equally confirmed that eight soldiers are lying cold at the Damaturu Specialist Hospital mortuary as two dead bodies of soldiers   were brought into the mortuary today.

    “Six soldiers were brought in on Sunday. We have another two soldiers that were brought in today from the attack making a total of eight soldiers, the hospital source disclosed.

    The army has still not released any official statement on the attack.

    Read Also: Stopping endless killings of soldiers

    Buni Gari is less than 5km from the 27 Task Force Army Brigade Buni Yadi which also accommodate the Army Special Forces Training School.

    The Nation recalled that the insurgents have launched a similar attack on a military location along the same axis in Katarko, a village just 23km from Damaturu, the state capital on November, 7th, 2018 where they went on rampage, dislodged the troops in the area and set the military base ablaze and some part of the village.

    The Nation checks gathered the Brig. Gen. Mohammed Baba Dala, the Sector 2 Commander Operation Lafiya Dole visited Buni Gari today to assess fist hand, the impact of the attack on his troops.

  • Gaidam approves N252.9 million for payment of gratuity

    Retirees in Yobe State will have reasons to smile again as Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the sum of over N252.9 million as payment for gratuity to Yobe civil servants who retired.

    The amount will also cover the death benefits of those that have died in the service under the employ of the state government.

    According to a statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, the Director General Media Affairs to Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said a total of 141 retired and deceased civil servants will benefit from the funds.

    The statement added that the latest disbursement is the 12th in the series of similar disbursement of the Gaidam administration which is so far running into billions of naira.

    The statement reads; “ His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the sum of N252, 993, 577.58 as gratuity payments to 141 retired and deceased civil servants whose retirement or death occurred from January to March 2018.

    “The amount also includes five-year pension to the next of kin of the affected deceased civil servants.

    “This is the 12th disbursement of retirement benefits to beneficiaries in a series that had seen the state government spent billions of naira so far.

    Read Also: Why I anointed Mai Mala, by Gaidam

    “The Gratuity Verification Committee set up by His Excellency the governor under the Service Welfare Office is also currently working to verify and recommend for payment the benefits of those who retire or die between April 2018 and August 2018.

    “All payments made so far and those to be made going forward are in keeping with the determination of the Gaidam administration to ensure the welfare and well being of workers in the employ of the state government”.

    One of the retirees who identified himself as Mohammadu Bukar told our correspondent that retirees in Yobe will forever be grateful to what Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam is doing for them in the state unlike in Borno where he said “people retire and die without their benefits”.

    What Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam is doing for retirees in the state here is far better that what our colleagues are going through in other state. We shall forever be grateful to Ibrahim Gaidam.

    “You don’t need to go far to see what i am talking about. Go to Borno here and see what our colleagues are going through. Just last week, they protested against the governor. Some have died after retirement without their benefits. We thank Ibrahim Gaidam for this gesture”, Mohammadu said.

  • Only one out of ten rape cases are reported in Yobe – CP

    Only ten out of ten rape cases in Yobe State are either reported to the police or known by the public, the Commissioner of Police Yobe State Abdulmaliki Sunmuno has said.

    The Yobe State police commissioner also disclosed that because of the culture of the people which encourages silence, most rape cases in the state are only discovered at the pregnancy stage of the girl who remains silent for fear, shame and ignorance.

    The CP who was speaking at a stakeholders meeting organized by Protection, Empowerment and Resilience Building (PERD) of Search for Common Ground in partnership with UN Women with funding from Japanese government described the problem of gender based violence in the state as serious and most be tackled with headlong.

    He said; “When I came to Yobe three months after, I discovered that a very serious issue after insurgency was gender based violence especially rape. Thank God His Excellency sent and Executive bill prescribing punishment to the House of Assembly that has just been signed into law a few weeks ago.

    “Because of the culture of the society that we live especially this one, the only evidence against rape is pregnancy. That is the only evidence. I would want advocacy of whatever group to sensitize members of the public on this issue of rape because the culture is preventing them from coming out to report these cases.

    “Sometimes when we start to prosecute rape cases, they leave us at the middle of the ocean because at the end of the day, the witnesses don’t come out to testify against the suspect.

    “I want to inform you that, for every ten rape cases that happen, only one is reported to the police or the public from our records in the state. This suggests that we have a long way to go. During the period of IDPs, can you imagine that even some people will encourage them to go out and make money from prostitution especially the orphaned girls? There was a case of a ten year old girl that ten suspects were arrested and all the ten of them had sex with her. When they came, the girl was pointing at each and every one of them.

    Read Also: Boko Haram attack Yobe village

    “Behind this is the issue of the usage of drugs by both men and women. The women are more into cough syrup and beneliyn while the men take Indian hemp and other substance to make them high. This is the other serious aspect of it because even domestic violence is not reported because of the culture. We have to balance the law and the culture”, CP Sunmuno said.

    He called on the SFCG and Federation of Women Lawyers to continue to build the capacity of the police in handling gender base violence issues especially rape which according to her is still low.

    The CP was also particularly happy with FIDA for assisting the police in the prosecution of some rape cases in the state, which according to him is helping in creating more awareness on the dangers of rape in the state.

    “Give us training to empower us to do more because our capability is still very low. Even if the law is there the police cannot do much if there are issues that the police still find that impedes on their operations,” CP Sunmuno appealed.

    In his address at the meeting, the State Project Coordinator, PERD, Yobe – Nigeria, Oluwatobi Salawu explained that the meeting was to draw an operational guard line that will help in the implementation of the program in the state.

    Mr. Tobi announced that the specific objectives of the project include:

    To Increase the safety of Women and girls’ through community-based actions to mitigate risks, prevent and respond to incidents of GBV in Borno and Yobe states.

    To improve the livelihood and access to income generating activities (IGA) of vulnerable women in Borno and Yobe States.

    He noted that the program has a designed approach which will be, “empower women and build resilience by increasing access to justice for cases of GBV through both informal and formal judicial systems and engage them in livelihood and income generating activities (IGA) to increase their financial independence. Although women will be the primary target, local authorities and stakeholders will be engaged at large to ensure the success of the activities and encourage positive behavior change among men and the promotion of male champions”.

    He announced that the project will be implemented in Borno State (Mafa & Jere LGA’s) and Yobe State (Bade LGA), while the stakeholders in the project include:

    – State Governments and Federal Institutions

    – MDAs

    – FIDA

    – CSOs

    – Women Groups

    – Media

    – Traditional /Community/ Religious leaders

    – Security agencies

    – Leadership of the target LGAs

    – Stakeholders of the target LGAs

  • Boko Haram attack Yobe village

    Suspected armed Boko Haram insurgents have launched a heavy attack on Katarko village, 23km away from Damaturu the Yobe State capital.
    A security source told our correspondent that he can confirm the attack but does not have details.
    Modu Aishami, one of the residents who ran to the bush informed that the insurgents stormed the village in unspecified number of gun truck and started shooting indiscriminately.
    Another resident said the insurgents started setting some houses ablaze causing people to run to the bush for their lives.

    Read also: Air Force kills Boko Haram terrorists in Borno operation

    Katarko is one of the town that was siezed by Boko Haram in 2013. A multi-million naira bridge in the village linking Buni Yadi to Biu in Borno State was also blown off by the insurgents.
    A few days ago, the insurgents attacked a military base and killed 6 soldiers at a border town between Yobe and Borno.
    The recent attacks are really causing fears in the minds of Damaturu residents especially the latest one which is just 23km from the state capital.
    No official statement has been issued by the army as at the time of filling this report.

  • Lone PDP House of Reps member wins primary in Yobe

    The only PDP member representing Potiskum/Nangere Federal Constituency at the National Assembly Hon. Sabo Garbu on Thursday picked his party’s ticket to re-represent his people at the green chambers of the National Assembly.

    The election which took place at Muhammad Idrissa cinema hall in Potiskum town produced Hon. Sabo Garbu as the winners against two other contestants, Umar Duddaye and Abubakar Muazu.

    The Returning Officer of the primary elections, Hon Baba Iyali Umaru, announced that Hon Garbu won the party’s ticket, having scored the highest votes of103, his closest rival Umar Duddaye polled 98 while the second Abubakar Muazu got 11.

    Read Also: 2019: Hassan-Fulata wins Jigawa APC Reps ticket

    Hon. Sabo in his acceptance remarks dedicated the victory to his co-contestants, his constituents and the good people of Yobe state, while calling on his colleagues to stay united and work for victory for the party.

    “We are all winners in this election,, so we should all stay united and work together in ensuring success for the party”, Hon. Garbu said.

  • One dead, three injured as IMN, security clash in Potiskum

    One person, a boy is said to have died from a stray bullet following a clash between members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and security personnel in the commercial city of Potiskum, Yobe State.

    Three members of the IMN have also been reportedly injured during the clash which took place around 8.30am Friday.

    Read Also:Police clash with IMN members in Abuja again

    Yobe State Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr. Sumonu Abdulmalik confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

    According to the CP, “the problem started when El-Zazzaky people during their yearly Ashura procession attempted to seize a gun from a soldier. Three people were wounded from the fracas. This I can confirm to you but I am still expecting details later in the day”.

    But one of the members of the group, Ibraheem El Tafseer denied the CP’s claim, saying that, “that is not our habit, that is not in our character. What the CP told you is not true”.

    “We have spent more than 25 years doing our Ashura procession in Potiskum. But today we came on the street and we were going then soldier came and started beating our members and later opened fire on them. Three people were injured. One person was hit by a stray bullet. Unfortunately he died.  But he is not our member. They arrested one of us and took him away.

    “The claim of the police is not true. We have even finished the procession and we gathered to round up when they now came. Nobody tried to attack them. That is not our habit.  That is not in our character,” Ibraheem narrated.

    Another source said that the members of the IMN threw stones at the JTF Vehicle which provoked the security personnel.

    Meanwhile, the sound of gunshots threw the commercial city into pandemonium.

    But the commissioner of police has informed that normalcy has returned to the city.

     

  • New harvests crash prices of foodstuff in Yobe

    Prices of foodstuff have crumbled in Yobe  as farmers in the state commenced the harvesting of their produce.

    Our reporter’s checks revealed that a bag of millet which used to sell between N11, 000 and N12, 000 is now sold between N6, 500 and N7,000.

    Malam Hassan Umar, a grain dealer in Gashua, said the new harvests had crashed the price of millet which is the staple food of the people.

    ‘‘Last week a bag of newly harvested millet was sold at N8,000 as against N10,000 three weeks ago, but it dropped to N6,000 at the Ngalda market this week.’’

    Read Also:Yobe North : ‘My bills will focus on poverty alleviation’

    He said the old stock, because of the high demand for it, was still sold at N8, 000.

    Musa Kabiru, another grain merchant in Damaturu, said the price was expected to crash further before stabilising at N5, 000 per bag.

    Meanwhile, farmers who spoke to our reporter in Damaturu, Bursari and Bade Local Government Areas, are celebrating the bumper harvests.

    Abba Usman, a farmer in Dapchi, said the harvests this season were very good and with high yields.

    ‘‘Unlike last year when the rains stopped early, the rains have been excellent this year, it’s still raining even when the crops are mature,’’ he said.

    Bukar Mohammed, another farmer, said there are possibilities of harvesting more beans and groundnuts far more than what was obtained in the 2017 season.