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Tag: Yobe State

  • Yobe approves N63.5m for free  Ramadan feeding, others

    Ahead of the Ramadan, Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the sum of N65.5 million as part of free Ramadan feeding of less privilege in the state during the Ramadan period.

    According to a statement released by the governor’s spokesman Abdullahi Bego, the feeding exercise and other activities like Tafsir will be carried out by the ministry of Religious Affairs.

    The statement explained that the sum of N48.5 million will be used for the purchase of Rams and cooking condiments in 42 centres while N15 million will be used for the payment of muslim preachers during the period.

    The statement reads: “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved N63.5 million through the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the provision of Ramadan feeding ( Iftar ) to the less privileged in 42 centres across the 17 local government areas of the state and for the conduct of Tafsir during the incoming Holy Month.

    Read Also: Gaidam gets Sudanese varsity honourary degree

    “Of the amount approved by the governor, N48.5 million will be used for the purchase of rams and cooking condiments for the 42 feeding centres while N15 million will be used for the payment of allowances to Muslim preachers who will seek to guide the Muslim faithful through the Holy Month.

    “His Excellency the governor had also approved 1, 260 bags of rice and 630 jerry cans of cooking oil to be used in the 42 designated feeding centres during Ramadan”.

    Over the years, the state government has consistently approved similar monies but the less privilege  have always complained of feeling the impact of the funds during the fasting period.

  • Methodist Church back’s Buhari’s anti-graft, terrorism wars

    The Methodist Church of Nigeria, Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja, has said it is satisfied with the Federal Government’s war against corruption and terrorism.

    It encouraged President Muhammadu Buhari “to remain focused, dogged and unwavering.”

    The Diocese stated this on Sunday in a communiqué marking the end of its three-day second annual synod at Elliot Memorial Methodist Church, Iju, Lagos.

    The statement was signed by the Bishop, Metropolitan Diocese of Ikeja, Rt. Revd (Dr.) Stephen Adegbite; Synod Secretary, Very Rev. Simeon Onaleke and Lay President, Frederick Ogunjuboun.

    It urged Buhari to avoid a selective anti-graft war “but a war under which no one is sacred or untouchable, not minding party affiliation or alliance.”

    The synod admonished the Legislature and Judiciary to complement Buhari’s efforts.

    “No arm of government should be seen to be mounting a stumbling block against concerted efforts geared towards winning this war,” it said.

    The synod noted “with joy” that the Boko Haram “has been severely decimated and its capabilities totally reduced.”

    It called for better cooperation in the intelligence community, “so that planned attacks can be nipped in the bud before they are carried out as it was the case in Dapchi, Yobe State, North East, Nigeria.”

    Synod also thanked the governments of Switzerland, the United States of America (USA), Great Britain, France and Belgium and the Red Cross for their efforts in securing the release of 101 of the kidnapped Dapchi girls.

    “Synod calls on everyone to continue to pray for the unconditional release of Leah Sharibu who is still being held because of her refusal to denounce her faith and others including the Chibok girls yet to be released,” it said.

    The church also commended Buhari’s emphasis on food security which, in its view, had boosted rice production to 17 million metric tons per annum from 5.7 million metric tons which it was in 2015.

    It, however, lamented the non-passage of the 2018 Budget and “epileptic” power supply in the country.

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, it said, had made “giant strides” especially in infrastructural development.

    The church congratulated Ambode for “the peace that continues to reign in state despite the religious, cultural and social diverseness of Lagos residents.”

    In particular, it noted the governor’s efforts to stop the notorious “Badoo Cult Group that terrorised the Ikorodu community.”

    It, however, appealed for the downward review of the recently increased Land Use Charge.

    The church also condemned hate speech, herdsmen attacks and cattle rustling menace, calling on the Federal Government to act fast on a solution.

    It added: “Synod regrets the pockets of agitation from across the country, from the Avengers, Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB), coupled with the assertion of rights by Ijaw People’s Congress, Oo’dua People’s Congress (OPC), Arewa Youth Congress and Consultative Forum, etc.”

  • Yobe donates N200m for Army Barrack project

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe on Wednesday donated N200 million to the Nigerian Army for its ongoing barrack project in the state.

    Gaidam made the donation when he visited the construction site of the barrack on Maiduguri-Damaturu Road, in Damaturu.

    He said he received some areas that needed urgent intervention from the General Officer Commanding 3 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Aliya adding that the areas of priority amounted to N200 million.

    “We have, therefore, taken these responsibilities for now. However we are going to spread the release of the fund in three instalments.

    “The costs will be shared between the state and local governments,” he said.

    Gaidam also said that his administration had paid a compensation to land owners to secure the land for the project.

    Read Also: Yobe approves N671m for payment of gratuity

    “We secure this land on behalf of the Nigerian Army by paying a compensation of about N200 million as our initial contribution,” he said.

    The governor added that the soldiers sacrificed their lives to protect the people of Yobe, adding: “they are here to protect our lives and property in Yobe State.

    “Some of them died in that course. So, the only way to reciprocate is to ensure that we contribute based on our capacity to ease some of their operational problems.

    NAN

  • Insurgency: PCNI trains 372 primary school teachers in Yobe

    The Presidential Committee for North-East Initiative ( PCNI ) and Yobe Government on Wednesday commenced a five-day training of 372 primary school teachers in Damaturu.

    The PCNI Programme Officer, Mrs Faith Anifowoshe, said that the committee was in Yobe to build the capacity of primary school teachers following the aftermath of insurgency in the state.

    “We are actually in Yobe State to commence a capacity building of 372 primary school teachers who were disintegrated by insurgency in the North-East.

    “This will enable children in this part of the country to get the required knowledge after lots of them were forced to abandon their education.

    “At the end of this programme, we hope the teachers will be better equipped to handle the challenging situation at hand.

    “This is because education in the North-East, even before the crisis, is a bit backward compared to other parts of the country, which is made worse by the insurgent activities,” Anifowoshe said.

    Read Also: PCNI trains 300 teachers on trauma control in Adamawa

    One of the facilitators, Dr Ali Ibrahim of Yobe State University, said that the major aim was to improve the teaching and learning capacity of teachers and students in the state.

    “This is designed to be achieved through various modules developed by the university, categorised into three: Psychosocial Support (PSS), Conflicts and Disaster Risk Management ( CDRM ) and Pedagogy of Teaching,” Ibrahim said.

    He expressed happiness on the turnout of the participants, saying, “the turnout is excellent. The classrooms are filled. I have seen the enthusiasm, the courage and resilience in the participants”.

    Some of the participants expressed appreciation and promised to utilise the skills acquire in the training.

    One of the participants, Ibrahim Balami, said, “The training will really improve our methods of teaching.

    “We will go back to our respective schools to share the skills with our colleagues who do not have the opportunity to attend.”

    NAN

  • Cholera outbreak in Yobe kill six, 62 hospitalized

    Not fewer than six people have been confirmed dead following an outbreak of Cholera in Bade Local Government of Yobe State.

    Our correspondent who visited Gashua Hospital saw many people on admission for treatment.

    Officials of Disease Control Unit of the State Primary Healthcare Agency disclosed that a total of 68 people were admitted from 25th March, 2018 to 31st March, 2018.

    According to the statistics, eight out of ten people were tested positive with few cases of gastroenteritis.

    Statistics gathered by our correspondent indicate that most of the cases are within Gashua town.

    The records show that Katuzu 6 Sabin Gari 24 Lawan Fanami 7, Lwan Musa 9 Zango 11Sarki Hausawa 5, Yusufari Kachallari 1 with a total of six death.

    The commissioner of Health Yobe State, Dr. Bello Kawuwa confirmed the outbreak but refused to speak about the number of death.

    “We have received reports of the outbreak in Gashua. We have dispatched our team in the area to address the problem.

    As for the number of death and what you saw, I wouldn’t contest that but I haven’t received the report yet because I am in transit”, Dr. Bello said.

    The Bade Local government sanitation officer, Adamu Salleh said the local government council has embarked on a massive hygiene sensitization campaign of the residents on Isolation, treatment, Prevention.

    Our correspondent also observed that the Islamic First Aid Group were seen giving support to a few government health at the hospital for the treatment of the patients.

    The Nation also gathered that residents of Gashua in Friday held special jumaat prayers over the outbreak.

    Lawn Audu, a relative of one of the patients informed that he has spent three days at the hospital but hopes to leave soon.

     

    The Nation also observed that most of the patients are sleeping with their mattresses on the ground with bad sanitary condition as renovation works is still going on at the hospital.

  • ‘I dedicate my promotion to my late wife’

    ADAMU Aliyu, one of the newly promoted officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC), Yobe State command has dedicated his promotion to his late wife, Fatima Mohamed Kyari and their two kids.

    Aliyu who has been promoted from the rant of Assistant Superintendent Corp  to Deputy Superintendent Corp  and was decorated alongside other 22 officers of the command said his wife was a source of inspiration for him, but regretted that she couldn’t live to see the progress he is making in his career.

    “I dedicate this promotion to my late wife Fatima, Mohammed Kyari and my two kids. She stood by me and she was my source of inspiration. I feel bad that she is not here to see the progress that I am making in my career. My prayer is for Allah to grant her paradise,” Aliyu said.

    DSC Aliyu said his new rank will motivate him for working very hard for the command and the nation in general.

    The Commandant, Yobe State Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp,  Ayinla Taye Olowo while decorating the new officers charged them to see their new ranks as a call to national duty rather than personal achievements.

    According to him, their new ranks come with mixed feelings which include managing new challenges, responsibilities and expectations, while calling on them to work hard in order to maintain the values of discipline and professionalism in the service.

    Com. Olowo added that promotion is not automatic, just as he called on those that were not yet promoted to wait for their time and cooperate with the promoted ones to give in their best when their time comes.

    He congratulated the Federal Government and the Yobe State Government for the safe return of the Dapchi Girl, while praying that such an ugly incident should not occur again.

    The commandant also praised the Federal Government on its commitment and support for security agencies in curbing criminalities in the country, while calling on the general public to see security as everyone’s business.

    There were good will messages from sister agencies including the police, immigration, NDLEA, prison, NOA and NYSC.

  • Fayose congratulates parents of released Dapchi Girls

    Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has congratulated parents of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls that were released today and sympathized with parents of five of the girls that reportedly died.

    He described the abduction of the girls as an indictment on the federal government and their release as “drama scripted by the government and its agents to swindle Nigerians.”

    Fayose, while reacting to the release of the abducted school girls, said; “This appears like an arranged abduction and an arranged release, but we thank God that the innocent girls have returned home and we condole with parents of those that died.”

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said it was strange that the girls could be brought back to Dapchi by their abductors without the security agents knowing when they were returned and who returned them.

    He said; “Curiously, the same spirit who made sure that all military checkpoints in Dapchi and other surrounding towns were removed to pave way for abduction of the girls also made sure that the girls were returned without any security agent seeing them.

    Read Also: Fayose, Ewi row over demolition in Ado-Ekiti

    “One can only be hopeful that the real script writers behind this drama will be exposed one day.

    “Nigerians should recall that the Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam said that military checkpoints were withdrawn from Dapchi and other communities a few days before the abduction of the 110 girls.

    This was also corroborated by the Amnesty International in its report that was published in the newspapers on Wednesday.

    “Specifically, Amnesty International said that security forces failed to act on advance warnings that a convoy of Boko Haram fighters was heading to Dapchi town and that between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm on February 19, 2018, calls were made to tell the security services that the Boko Haram insurgents were in the Dapchi area.

    “No doubt, withdrawal of military check-points from Dapchi and other communities, few days before the 110 students were abducted and failure of the security forces to act on advance warnings exposed the conspiracy of the federal government and its agents in the abduction of the school girls and other dastardly acts of the insurgents.

    “Interestingly, no one was questioned up till now despite conflicting claims by the army and police as well as the damning report by the Amnesty International hat between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm on February 19, 2018, calls were made to tell the security services that the Boko Haram insurgents were in the Dapchi area.”

    The governor, who reiterated his allegation that Boko Haram insurgency had become source of treasury looting; said; “Those benefitting from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scams, payment of ransom (in dollars) to free those abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents, among others will never wish to see the end of the insurgency.”

  • Dapchi Girls: IGP absolves Police

    …Deploys Mobile Police to schools in Northeast 

    …IG gives 20th April as deadline for withdrawal of personnel

     

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has absolved the Nigeria Police Force in the abduction of Dapchi school girls.

    Over 100 girls were abducted in February from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Dapchi in Yobe State.

    The IG also disclosed that Police Mobile Force would be deployed to all the schools in the northeast as part of measures to forestall future occurrence.

    The Police chief said this in Abuja on Tuesday at the Force Headquarters during a meeting with Squadron, Countet Terrorism Unit (CTU), and Special Protection Unit (SPU), Commanders.

    The meeting was held as part of preparation for the withdrawal of personnel from VIPs.

    On the deployment to schools in the northeast, the police chief said: “You are all aware of the abduction of Dapchi school girls by this horrible Boko Haram in Yobe States.  Though not the fault of the police, the incidence was a national embarrassment.

    “It is not the fault of the police because from what we had from the Commissioner of Police in the state, he said he was not informed or alerted before that attack took place but I think it is incumbent on us to take action.

    “Consequently, in compliance with the Presidential order, I have given a directive that all schools in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno state must have PMF personnel deployed to the schools. The PMF are to provide security in those schools.”

    Read Also: IGP withdraws policemen attached to VIPs, others

    The IG also said he will be going to the Northeast on Wednesday  (today) with the DIG Operations in order to have on the spot assessment of the deployment.

    On the withdrawal of Police personnel, the IG said the withdrawal would be nationwide.

    He said the men would be withdrawn latest 20th April, 2018.

    He said: “We are trying to seek the permission of the Commander in Chief before we conduct this withdrawal because it is going to be a massive withdrawal all over the country.

    “Of course you know the sentiment of people, whenever you take such actions; there would be lots of complaints. So, we are going to do it in a sound footing to make sure that once we withdraw people,  they are not taken back.

    “The Squadron and Commanders of PMF, CTU and PMF will sign an undertaken and any violation of those directives is going to be met with strict disciplinary action.

    “You have up to 20th April March to comply with these directives”, he added.

    The IG also described as worrisome attacks on Police personnel.

    He said the successes of the the attack shows that the personnel indulge in unprofessional conducts and poor training.

    The IG said: “Attack on Police personnel who are on official duties is quite worrisome. The rate at which personnel on special duties are killed and weapons carted away is alarming.

    “These incidences are due to lack of supervision, and unprofessional conducts by the men. They don’t have the training and therefore they don’t know what to do in the event of an attack.

    “They are never at alert and tend to forget themselves in the environment they operate. This attitude must be checked and solution must be found”.

    The IG said men posted to crisis areas must be fully kitted with guns, body armour, and enough ammunition.

  • Dapchi girls: Reps investigation to focus on security agencies’ action, inaction

    The House of Representatives has said that it would not shy away from apportioning blames to agencies that shirked  its responsibilities in the abduction of 110 students of Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State on 19 February, 2018.

    Even as it assured Nigerians of finding lasting solutions to the menace of insecurity in the Northeast and the country in general, the House said no effort would be spared in unravelling the truth about the abduction and the level of military culpability or otherwise in the abduction saga.

    Speaking at a press briefing, Chairman of the ad hoc committee mandated to carry out the investigation, Buba Yakubu said his panel is keen to determine the general level of situational awareness of the security forces in the area.

    He said: “We are to determine the extent to which the security forces interact with the local community for the purpose of information sharing.

    “It is also our determination to find out when the security forces became aware of the attack on Dapchi and the action taken to do damage control.

    “In addition, we will determine the action and inactions of security forces before, during and after the abduction of the school girls as well as determine the action  that could have been taken by the security forces to arrest the situation.

    “We are also going determine the level of hot pursuit, blocking operations by land and air forces as well as neighbouring formations and units immediately after the abduction.

    “The distance of the nearest military, police or para military deployment to the school will also be focused on while we examine the possibility of intelligence failure on the part of security forces in the general area.

    “We are also going to determine if there was negligence on the part of individuals, groups of individuals and or organizations.

    “We have to be thourough and go for this option because we have to be cognizant of the fact that this incidence has negatively affected our national psyche,  demoralise the Nigerians populace, created a high sense of insecurity and is a serious setback on our efforts towards the girl – child education”.

  • Soyinka condemns spate of killings, kidnappings in Nigeria

    Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday condemned the spate of killings and kidnappings in several parts of the country.

    Soyinka made the condemnation in Lagos while speaking at a programme “The Ripples Dialogue: Rebuilding a Divided Nigeria.”

    He described wanton killings of innocent Nigerians by criminals and herdsmen as “homicidal fiesta”, saying the situation was unfortunate.

    Soyinka said the government’s response to the security challenges was poor, especially those associated with herdsmen.

    He said it was bad for herdsmen to invade and kill people across communities in the country to graze their cattle.

    “The Lake Chad Basin is receding.The water is drying up. But that should not be a reason for herdsmen to attack people in Bayelsa, down in Oyo and Ogun, that should never be an excuse,”he said.

    Soyinka also condemned the abduction of school girls in Daphchi in Yobe State by Boko Haram members .

    He said that the abduction would have been prevented if those saddled with ensuring security in the school had done the right thing.

    The Nobel laureate described Boko Haram as “blood sucking “, saying their activities are a threat to humanity.

    On  the myriads of problems facing the country, Soyinka said Nigeria would be a better country if leaders were committed to service and the welfare of the people.

    The Nobel Laureate, however, said the followership also had its share of blame for some of the problems.

    He said working nations were not built by leaders alone but by good followers too.

    On the “shit hole” remark made by President Donald Trump about Nigeria and some other countries, Soyinka said the American president latched on the numerous problems in the country.

    According to him, if Nigerians had made the country work, Trump would not have had the opportunity to use such derogatory term to refer to the country.

    Soyinka, however, said he was not disappointed by President Trump’s  comment as he had always seen him as not fit for the office.

    The Nobel laurate condemned a bill being proposed by the National Assembly prescribing death penalty for those who made hate speeches.

    He said the bill was an attempt by the lawmakers to silence speech so that they could be immune to  scathing criticisms.

    While describing hate speeches as “dangerous and destructive”, he said hanging people was not the right  punishment.

    “Hate speech is bad and destructive, but do I want anybody hanged? No, I would rather want people shamed, “he said.

    Soyinka also urged the government at all levels to be alive to their responsibility.

    In his contribution, Dr Reuben Abati, immediate past  Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, said there was a disconnect between leadership and followership in the country .

    He  attributed the disconnect to  the mistrust between the two, in the light of failure of leadership to deliver the goods.

    Abati urged  leaders to discharge their responsibilities to the people, not only to earn the trust of their followers, but also to promote the development in the country.

    NAN