The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yobe

  • Army special school to train Police, NSCDC

    Army special school to train Police, NSCDC

    The Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Yobe, will train “strike forces” which will be deployed in liberated communities in North-East, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali, has said.

    The personnel of group, according to him, will be drawn from the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other security agencies.

    The minister, who announced this on Sunday when he visited the school, said that the personnel would be trained under a pilot programme and that deployment would start with Bama town in Borno.

    He said that the arrangement would enable troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, to concentrate on the ongoing clearance operations to flush out the remnants of the terrorists.

    He addressed troops undergoing training in the school, and assured them that the Federal Government would provide necessary equipment that would enable them to flush out the terrorists in the zone.

    Dan-Ali said that the insurgents, who had been weakened, had resorted to ambushes, kidnapping and other sorts of criminality, hence the need to re-strategise the operation.

    He urged the troops to remain united and synergise with other security agencies in the fight against the terrorists.

    He advised them not allow the July 25 incident, when terrorists ambushed and killed some troops and NNPC and University of Maiduguri workers, to dampen their morale.

    The minister said that was at the school to see things for himself, after Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, directed the Service Chiefs, to relocate to the Command and Control Centre, to charge of operation.

    The minister commended the troops for the “good job” they were doing for the nation and participated in the firing exercise along with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, Theatre Commander, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

    He used the opportunity to inspect 49 newly acquired combat vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carrier and gun trucks for the school.

  • Gaidam: I will leave Yobe for a credible successor

    Gaidam: I will leave Yobe for a credible successor

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has re-echoed his resolve to produce a credible successor.

    The governor, who spoke in Damaturu, at the defection party of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowed to ensure that he is succeeded by a responsible person.

    “God gives power to whoever he wishes, but I assure you we will handover to credible successors who would continue with the good work we have started, not drunkards and smokers who would lead our party and people astray,” Gaidam said.

    Some chieftains of the PDP, including a former Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Jibril Maigeri, former commissioners Mohammed Saleh and Sani Choromari, last week defected to the APC, citing Governor Gaidam’s openness and commitment to moving the state forward as reasons for joining the party.

    Governor Gaidam, who described their return to APC as “home coming and a journey to where they rightly belong”, urged them to work hard to achieve the party’s ideals.

    His words: “Based on the achievements which our administration has recorded since its inception in 2009, it is clear that the APC is the only party that could emancipate the common man from the clutches of deprivation, poverty, insecurity, marginalisation and injustice.

    “The country has witnessed nothing but misrule, deterioration of living condition, diminishing power supply, crises in supply of petroleum products, corruption, unemployment, insecurity, insurgency and militancy.

    “I am glad to state, without fear of contradiction, that all these are now being effectively and efficiently addressed.”

    Gaidam promised to keep to his campaign promises till his last day in office, and even called on political officer holders to justify the people’s confidence in them.

  • Yobe warn farmers against encroaching on cattle routes

    Yobe warn farmers against encroaching on cattle routes

    The Yobe government has warned farmers against farming on the over 1,000 kilometres of demarcated cattle routes across the state.

    Dr Mustapha Gaidam, the Manager of Yobe Livestock Development Programme, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Damaturu.

    He also cautioned cattle breeders against moving out of the routes to feed their animals on farmlands.

    “The warning became necessary in view of reported activities of some farmers encroaching into cattle routes.

    “Although, it may be an isolated case, we are not taking chances to safeguard the routes and promote peaceful coexistence between farmers and grazers in the state.”

    Gaidam said that the routes were demarcated in order to ease movement of livestock and avoid trespass into farmlands.

    “The demarcation of these routes has virtually eradicated farmers and grazers conflicts in the state as both farmers and grazers restrict their activities in compliance to the demarcations,” he said.

    According to the manager, government has constructed boreholes and water points along the routes to serve the animals with drinking water.

    “Government recently inaugurated three new boreholes and water points at Alkwaya, Zoto and Dazigau villages on the 130km Damaturu-Dazigau cattle route to avoid trespass into farmlands by animals.

    “Government has also invested in this project to promote a secure environment among farmers and herdsmen; this must be respected, protected and promoted by all stakeholders,” he said.

  • Army arrest four fleeing Boko Haram terrorists, including father, son

    Army arrest four fleeing Boko Haram terrorists, including father, son

    The Army have arrested four fleeing Boko Haram terrorists, including a father and son at Kurnari village and Nayinawa in Yobe.

    According to a statement issued by Army Spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, on Tuesday, the arrested terrorists are: Bukar Waziri, 25, Mammade Lawan, 20, and father and son, Muhammadu Damina, 40, and Isah Muhammadu, 15.

    Usman said that the suspects were arrested on Monday after they fled their hideout at Talala and Buk in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno.

    “During preliminary investigation, they claimed that they were fleeing from the terrorists’ hideout at Talala and Buk in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State because of the unbearable military onslaughts and bombardments on their various locations,” the army spokesman said.

  • Court issues arrest warrant on Yobe CP over rape

    A Chief Magistrate Abubakar Lamba Maluri of Magistrate Court sitting in Damaturu has issued an arrest warrant on the Yobe State Commissioner of Police to arrest and produce one Corporal Musa Idrissa of the Nigerian Police Force for his failure to appear in court in a case of the rape of a 13- year-old girl filed against him.

    The case brought was brought to the court by one Hussaini Musa,a brother to the girl who is a JSS 1 student of Ali Marami Day Secondary School, Damaturu. According to the complainant, the action of the accused resulted in the pregnancy of the girl. When the case came up on Wednesday, 12th July 2017,the accused was absent without any reason or excuse given to the court. In view of that, the Chief Magistrate Abubakar Lamba Maluri issued two warrant arrest both on the Police Commissioner and the accused to be brought before the court on 19/7/2017.

    The Nation gathered that the police on Friday went to the residence of the girl and whisked her to an unkown destination. When contacted, the Yobe State Police Public Relations Ofiicer, DSP Ali Burah said he could not give details of the issue because he was away for a workshop in Kaduna with the CP. He, however, promised to provide details as soon as he returns to Damaturu.

  • WFP, Yobe Agric agency collaborate on food security

    WFP, Yobe Agric agency collaborate on food security

    The Yobe State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have expressed their commitment to ending hunger in the state.

    During a visit by a WFP team to ADP office in Yobe, the organisations expressed concern over the need to ensure that people displaced by Boko Haram insurgency received food assistance and seeds for planting through collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

    ADP’s Programme Manager Alhaji Mustapha Goggobe told the team led by WFP Head of Area Office, Maiduguri, Ms. Mutinta Chimuka, that WFP had been a worthy partner in the fight against hunger, not only in the state but also in the entire Northeast where insurgency forced many people to flee their homes.

    “We are the implementer with WFP in Yobe and government representative coordinating with the food sector working group in the state. We share ideas that help support WFP intervention against hunger in the Northeast Nigeria,” said Goggobe.

    “We acknowledge WFP’s role in fighting hunger in Yobe through food distribution and cash transfers to internally displaced people. We have been partnering with WFP for long together with FAO especially on seed distribution and protection. WFP is a strong ally and partnership is one of the best ways to ensure food security in the state,” he said.

    “In fact, we are making a lot of impact because of partnership with WFP. Partnership is good in this kind of work on food security. The last time FAO was distributing seed at Yusufari Local Government while WFP was distributing food. We like this kind of partnership. It is a success story to see WFP in Yobe,” he said.

    Responding, Chimuka said: “For us the emergency assistance and saving lives is important. Through the support of authorities, we have been able to impact lives. We thank the government of Nigeria. Also, through the support of Yobe State government and its agency ADP; and other state authorities we are continually feeding people in dire need of food assistance in the Northeast Nigeria.”

  • Yobe acquires 1,000 hectares for IDPs, procure N38m farm implements

    Yobe acquires 1,000 hectares for IDPs, procure N38m farm implements

    The Yobe Government, says it has cleared 1,000 hectares of land to re-engage over 500 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into farming.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Gajerema, said this on Thursday in Damaturu, while inspecting newly procured farm implements.

    He said that the government had procured tractor spare parts, tyres, plough discs, thrashers and other equipment worth N38 million to boost agricultural production in the state this cropping season.

    Gajerema said that the government would provide the IDPs with improved seeds and fertiliser to support their efforts to engage in food production so as to boost the state’s food security and economic recovery.

    He urged the IDPs to use the opportunity, which the government had provided for them, to facilitate their economic recovery and rehabilitation.

    He said that the refurbished tractors would be deployed to every part of the state to serve the people.

    “Agricultural production is the major occupation of our people; government will support the people with every necessary input to promote agriculture in the state.

    “This administration is giving agriculture a very high priority and will support both rain-fed and irrigation farming activities in the state,’’ he said.

    Gajerema urged the management of the state Agricultural Development Programme to ensure the proper use of the equipment, while remitting of all the revenue accruing from it into the government coffers.

  • Yobe: Increase in drug abuse among females, worrisome – NDLEA

    Yobe: Increase in drug abuse among females, worrisome – NDLEA

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Yobe has described as ‘worrisome’ increase in number of females abusing drugs in the state.

    Commander of the agency in the state, Mr Apeh Reuben, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Monday that young girls between the ages of 15 and 35 were increasingly involved in drugs consumption and abuse.

    “Some of the females consume and abuse multiple drugs, especially Tramadol, Amphetamine and Cannabis,” he said.

    He called for partnership with Yobe government to curtail the ugly trend in the interest of the individuals and the state.

    “This will have devastating consequences on the future of the state if adequate measures are not taken at the right time” he warned.

    Speaking on the constraints of his agency in the state, Reuben said inadequacy of vehicles and accommodation for addicts being counseled, were their major challenges.

    He said the addicts were being accommodated in rented apartments, stressing that ensuring the welfare of such people, was paramount.

    Reuben said in spite of the challenges, his command was doing its best, adding that last year, no fewer than 98 drug dependent persons had been counseled.

    According to him, the agency is taking the campaign against drug abuse to schools in line with this year’s theme of the international day against drug abuse, which was celebrated on June 23.

    “The theme, tagged ‘Listen First to the children’ is the first step to assist children and youth to grow healthy and safe from drug abuse.

  • Displaced people will no longer queue for food –DG NEMA

    Displaced people will no longer queue for food –DG NEMA

    …trackers used to monitor food movement

     

    The new Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja has disclosed that displaced people will no longer queue for food or any relief materials from NEMA.

    The DG who was in Nguru on Monday  to monitor the food supplied to the northern part of Yobe also disclosed that the agency is using tracker from the headquarters to monitor the movement of vehicles conveying food from and to all NEMA warehouses.

    The Nation reports that Federal Government on Thursday last week lunched a multi-billion naira food intervention program for the north east by the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Maiduguri.

    Engr. Maihaja while fielding questions from journalists explained that, “It used to be the displaced people queuing in the sun, under the rains and in other very harsh conditions for hours and sometimes people collapse. But when I came in, with the support of the acting president, we decided to make the distribution door-to-door. The main reason is that there is an established report that hunger might strike the north east so as a responsive government, we don’t want to be caught unawares therefore it has taken up the responsibility to feed our people. We are bringing in is 40,905,000 metric tons to be distributed to the north eastern states of the country”, Engr. Maihaja explained.

    The DG also announced that the food will be distributed to the people door to door based on the voucher issued to them during the enumeration period, adding that, each household will be given food based on the number of family members on the voucher.

    He assured that all the IDPs, the vulnerable group and people in the host communities will benefit from the food intervention program of the federal government. The Nguru visit according to the DG was to ensure that all the trucks of food sent to the area are on ground, while expressing his satisfaction over the ongoing enumeration exercise.

    He added that food meant for the eastern and southern parts of the state will be stored at Damaturu and Potiskum respectively before onward distribution.

     

  • My 24 children are HIV negative – NEPWAN Chairman (Yobe)

    My 24 children are HIV negative – NEPWAN Chairman (Yobe)

    …nine born after contracting the virus.

    The Chairman, People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWAN) Yobe State Chapter Alh. Ali Damaturu has disclosed that out of his 24 children, none of them is HIV positive.

    Alh. Ali Damaturu who spoke exclusively with The Nation in Damaturu, the Yobe State Capital informed that out of the 24 children, nine of them were born after he contracted the virus but none of them has the virus because he and his three wives take their medication very seriously.

    “I use to tell people that, it is a matter of choice if you want to die of HIV/AIDS at this time because we have gone passed the period that the illness was killing people because of lack of knowledge, shame and even medication.

    “Today, HIV/AIDs is like malaria. It can be overcome because, there are several ways you can manage it and live your life normal without any problem. Look, let me tell you, I have 24 children and three wives. I and my wives are all infected with the virus but none of my children is HIV positive. We follow the counseling and take our drugs as and when due. We eat good food. I don’t joke with taking my drugs and my wives know that too. Look at us, we are happy. Out of these 24 children, nine were born after I got the virus but no single one of them is positive,” Ali explained.

    One of the biggest challenges facing his members is the issue of stigma and neglect from family members especially from the northern part of Yobe State.

    “We are facing a lot of problem with our members. The most serious problem is the issue of stigmatization of our members. This is happening mostly from the northern part of Yobe State. I must say that the awareness has increased especially from Damaturu down to Potiskum and some other parts of the state but our members are still suffering in areas like Nguru, Yusufari, Machina and so. We only hope that the situation improves with the passage of the Anti-Stigmatization bill into law by the Yobe State House of Assembly.

    The Yobe NEPWAN Chairman regretted the withdrawal of donor agencies in the funding of HIV/AIDS issue but however praised the Yobe State Government for her continuous support in the project.

    “We are not happy that funding from foreign partners has dropped while others have completely withdrawn. But I must commend Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam his ceaseless support for the program. Through this period, we have never had any cause in the break of supply of drugs to our members. The drugs have been constant and we are grateful to the governor for his commitment towards us.

    “We are therefore calling on the law enforcement for the full implementation of the anti-stigmatization law in the state so that people will begin to bear the brunt of the consequences of their actions towards our members. Our people need care not neglect. Sometimes it is even the attitude of the society that kills our members instead of the virus,” Ali said.

    Alh. Ali regretted that many of their members in the state have died due to family rejection, stigmatization and neglect, while calling on Yobe State government to seriously prosecute such people as a deterrent to others.

    “I feel so sad that many of my members have died because they were neglected by their families, or rejected and stigmatized. There are some that we discovered and took over their cases and they have become part of our family. One thing that must happen is that government must set an example against some of these attitudes so that people can be afraid of maltreating our people. This has to stop,” Ali warned.

    One of Ali’s wives, Falmata said their family is one of the happiest and that their husband is very serious when it comes to them adhering to medication.

    “We are happy with our lives. Thank God for our husband for his knowledge of the management of the virus. From the beginning it was not easy for us but now we have overcome every challenge. You can see that because of our knowledge of the management of the virus, none of our children is positive with the virus and we thank God. Our husband don’t joke about the drugs that we take. He takes it very seriously and we understand that. As we can see, we are living healthier than some people that are even negative,” Falmata said.

    She also collaborated with her husband on the issue of stigma but added that more awareness is being created by their members particularly during naming and marriage ceremonies, adding that, “more women are now free to discuss issues of HIV/AIDS than in the past”.