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Tag: Yobe

  • Yobe spends N650m on scholarships

    Yobe spends N650m on scholarships

    The Chairman, Yobe State Scholarship Board, Alhaji Ibrahim Toshia, said on Friday that the state government spent N650 million as scholarships on 9,000 students in the last two years.

    Toshia, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu, said the beneficiaries were students in various tertiary institutions in the country and abroad.

    “In 2013, Yobe State Government paid N86.4 million as scholarship funding to 3,253 students within the country and N235.4 million to 89 students abroad out of which 12 were medical students.

    “Government also paid N63 million for the training of four helicopter pilots, N32.1 million for 52 law students and N14.3 million for special courses to 88 students studying Arabic and French.

    “This year, government paid N153 million to 5,446 students in various institutions across the country.

    “It also paid N53.6 million to 17 students in tertiary institutions in Europe, Asia and African countries out of which six are doctorate degree students,’’ he said.

    He said that most of the overseas students were studying engineering, medicine, aero-space engineering, environmental management and other sciences.

    He said the state government was committed to the payment of the scholarship allowances to ensure that beneficiaries were encouraged to do well in their studies.

    “We urge the students to be committed to their studies to justify government’s investment in their educational pursuit.

    “It is our hope that the students will concentrate on their and contribute to the development of the state after their graduation,’’ he said.

  • 13 killed in attack on Yobe mosques as three die in Kano bombing

    13 killed in attack on Yobe mosques as three die in Kano bombing

    Terrorists have unleashed an army of female suicide bombers in some part of the country.

    A female suicide bomber believed to be about 14 years old detonated explosives yesterday at the Kano State Polytechnic in the city that has been under attack by female bombers in the past one week, killing three people.

    Seven people were injured when the bomb she concealed in her hijab exploded.

    Thirteen people died in attacks on mosques in Potiskum, the commercial capital of Yobe State, on Tuesday evening.

    It was gathered that the teenage suicide bomber sneaked  into the midst of graduands, who were checking the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) deployment list pasted on the wall at the bus stop close to the school’s gate.

    The incident happened at about 3:30 pm when the batch A NYSC members converged and were checking the list for their postings.

    An eyewitness account said 12 persons were killed and 15 injured, but Kano State Police Commissioner Aderenle Shinaba said three people died; seven were injured.

    ‘’ We are in very difficult times, a situation that is assuming a new dimension of suicide bombing in the state. This one that happened here at the Administrative Block of Kano State Polytechnic is frightening.

    ‘’ The incident, which occurred at about 3:30 pm, calls for vigilance on the part of every one of us because we have tried as much as possible for the deployment of police officers in every strategic location.

    ‘’ So, at these critical times, what is required is intelligence and vigilance on the part of everybody. Even when we have policemen everywhere, we require information as well as vigilance of everyone of us.

    ‘’A situation where somebody is carrying explosives, what business does such person have  where graduates assembled to check the placement of the Batch A NYSC deployment.?

    ‘’It is disheartening  to note that when you see somebody around, who is looking like a primary or secondary school pupil to disguise with her hijab in our midst without anybody taking note. We have been telling people about the issue of female teenage suicide bombers, which calls for the attention of the law enforcement agencies to be on the alert.

    ‘’Look, for hijab wearing female suicide bombers , sentiments and religion should not be the issue but we should face the reality of tackling it headlong so as to avoid future occurrence.’’

    Two suicide bombers on Tuesday launched coordinated attacks on two mosques in Potiskum.

    The attacks were targeted at worshippers  during the evening prayer around 7:30pm local time.

    They attacked the Alkali Kalli mosque, a few metres away from the  Emir of Fika’s palace and the Sakafa mosque, located  at the busy Potiskum central market.

    Despite security warnings that people should stay away from blast scenes, residents were milling around the two mosques yesterday to witness the destruction.

    Residents stormed the Potiskum General Hospital to identify the dead and the injured.

    The authorities declined to give the death toll, but hospital sources said 13 bodies were brought in from the separate attacks; 35 others affected by the explosions are receiving treatment at the Potiskum hospital.

    The source said victims with high degree of fracture would be referred to other hospitals.

    An official with   Isma Medical Initiatives, who was involved in the rescue operation, also said 13 people died and 35 were injured.

    “We were involved in the rescue operation from the beginning up to this time and I can confirm to you that 13 people were killed in the separate attacks while 35 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. Many of those on admission will be referred to Either Nguru or neighbouring Azare for treatment,” he said, pleading not to be named because he is not permitted to talk to the media.

    The  Emir of Fika, Alhaji Mohammadu Ibn Mohammadu Idris, who visited the scene, condemned the attacks, which he described as “callous and inhuman”. He called on residents to be “vigilant at all times in the fight against terrorism”.

    The royal father promised to take responsibility for  the  medical bills of those on admission at the Potiskum hospital.

    In a message from the lesser hajj, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, through his Special Adviser on Information and Press Affairs, Abdulfatahi Bego, express deep shock at the attacks.

    The message reads: “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, who is currently performing the Umrah (Lesser Hajj) in Saudi Arabia, is deeply shocked and outraged by the loss of lives and suffering caused by the attacks in Katarko and Potiskum in which about 17 people were killed and many more injured.

    “Governor Gaidam strongly condemns the attacks which are senseless, heinous and barbaric and totally unjustifiable.

    “The Governor’s thoughts and those of his administration are with the families of the victims at this time of great loss.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has prayed Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant eternal repose to those killed and quick recovery to those who sustained various degrees of injury”

    He directed for free medical treatment of all victims affect in the blast, calling on the people to be ever more vigilante with the change of mode of attacks by the insurgents.

    “The Governor has also directed that free medical treatment be provided for all the injured until they are discharged from hospital.

    “Given the changing mode of attack by criminals and insurgents, the Governor has called on people across the state to remain ever more vigilant to happenings around their communities and to promptly report any suspicious persons or objects to security agents.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has called for increased cooperation with security agents and more intensive prayers for Almighty Allah (SWT) to help restore peace in our state and the nation generally.

    “The Governor has also called on security agencies in the state to continue to do more to nip criminal and insurgent activities in the bud and reiterated his call on the federal government to provide advanced bomb detection and other stealth security equipment to help the security agents on the ground more effectively prevent attacks,” the statement read.

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday deplored the continuing terrorist assault on Kano and the heinous bombing of the Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.

    In a statement, presidential spokesman Reuben Abati said Dr. Jonathan “similarly deplores the attacks on two mosques in Potiskum, Yobe State yesterday.

    “President Jonathan condemns the repeated targeting of worshippers, and   innocent students who are the nation’s future by depraved terrorists.

    “He believes that the callous attacks on soft targets fully affirm that the terrorists’ are nothing but bloodthirsty adherents of a warped and retrogressive ideology.

    “No amount of intimidation and violence would stampede the government into abandoning its goal of giving education a new lease of life and opening up access to all young Nigerians who wish to improve themselves.

    “President Jonathan has therefore directed the Armed Forces, Police and other national security agencies to further enhance security around educational facilities in states prone to terrorist attacks.”

  • Two suicide bombers kill 13, injures 35 in Yobe

    Two suicide bombers on Wednesday launched coordinated attacks on two mosques in Potiskum town, the largest commercial city in Yobe State.

    The attack was targeted at worshippers during the evening prayer at about 7:30 local time.

    They attacked mosques which included the Alkali Kalli mosque located just a few metres away from the Emir of Fika Palace and the Sakafa mosque sited at the busy Potiskum Central Market.

    Despite security warnings that people should stay away from blast scenes, residents were however seeing milling around the two mosques in the earlier hours of Wednesday to witness the level of destruction when our correspondent visited.

    The potiskum General hospital was equally taken over by sympathizers and family members who either came to identify the dead or the injured.

    Hospital authorities and security declined official comment but an anonymous hospital source informed that 13 bodies were brought from the separate attacks while 35 others affected by the blasts are currently receiving treatment at the Potiskum hospital.

    The source also disclosed that victims with high degree of fracture would be referred to other hospitals like FMC Nguru and Azare.

    An official with Isma Medical Initiatives, who was involved in the rescue operation, also confirmed that 13 people died in the incidents.

    “We were involved in the rescue operation from the beginning up to this time and I can confirm to you that 13 people were killed in the separate blasts while 35 others sustained various degrees of injuries. Many of those on admission will be referred to Either Nguru or neighbouring Azare for treatment,” he stated.

     

  • Yobe, Borno celebrate Sallah amid tight security

    Yobe, Borno celebrate Sallah amid tight security

    Despite the apprehension of a possible attack by Boko Haram in Borno and Yobe states, the Ed-el-Fitri celebration was successfully held yesterday in both states.

    But there was a restriction of vehicles and commercial tricycles to the praying grounds to ensure that insurgents did not use them to perpetrate evils.

    Worshippers trekked to the praying grounds from far and near.

    In Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Governor Kashim Shettima was among thousands of worshippers who converged on the popular Ramat Square for the two raka’at prayers to mark the end of the Ramadan fast.

    The governor was accompanied by members of the State Executive Council (Exco) and other dignitaries.

    After the prayers, Shettima felicitated with the Muslim ummah for marking a hitch-free Sallah.

    But the governor regretted that insurgency had paralysed most activities in the state, leading to the restriction of movement during the festive period.

    He prayed for God’s intervention.

    Shettima sympathised with the internally displaced people (IDPs), noting that they had “become slaves in their country”.

    The governor hailed security agencies for working to end senseless killings in the land.

    He praised the residents for their loyalty, commitment, assistance to security agencies and constituted authority since the Boko Haram insurgency broke out.

    In Yobe State, Deputy Governor Abubakar Aliyu and top government functionaries prayed at the town’s mosque and Islamic centre.

    Chief Imam Hudu Mohammed led the prayers.

    The cleric urged Muslims to use the lessons of Ramadan to live peacefully with one another.

    He also advised them not to relent in prayers for peace to be restored in the state and the country.

    Mohammed urged Muslims to always show love and forgiveness, among other attributes, which would ensure peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of the world.

    Our reporter, who monitored the celebration in the two states, said there was heavy surveillance among security operatives to avoid any security breach.

  • Yobe vaccinates 5m animals

    Yobe vaccinates 5m animals

    Over five million animals have been vaccinated in Yobe State, in keeping with Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s health policy.

    It took less than two years into his administration for the governor to start implementing the plan to provide the residents with a good health plan, especially the free medical care for children under five and expectant mothers. Gaidam also followed up with free vaccination for animals. His health policy was widely celebrated by the people of the state

    The governor spoke of the need to have healthy animals at a mass vaccination campaign at Dikumari village on the outskirts of Damaturu, the state capital. He assured that no animal will remain unvaccinated in the state and directed the Ministry of Animals and Fisheries to ensure that the exercise covers all the local government areas in the state.

    Gaidam also expressed happiness over the improved relationship between pastoralists and farmers in the state, announcing that government will construct two international livestock markets in Garin Alkali and Nguru, to boost livestock production and revenue.

    He called for strict monitoring of influx of animals into the state to check the spread of diseases. He said “the vaccination of the animals in the state is apt”.

    Programme Manager of the Yobe Livestock Pilot Development Programme, Dr. Mustapha Gaidam said the gesture has considerably improved livestock production in the state.

    He said: “I wish to inform you that despite the security challenges that we have in the state, livestock production has been on the increase because of the free vaccination initiative of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam for animals in the state. This has in turn also boosted trading in this sector significantly. The inter-town roads constructed by the state government have facilitated easy movement to these areas with large concentration of goats, sheep and cattle. There are livestock farmers in every household in all the 17 local government areas of the state. Naturally, our people have the passion for livestock farming and we have been supporting them with drugs, food supplement and adequate water to improve the capacity of the farmers.”

    Dr. Mustapha said the programme also trained farmers on animal health and fattening, pointing out that the excise has improved the quality and value of livestock with good returns to the farmers. He said further that “We have also recorded improvement in meat and dairy production. Yobe is definitely moving away from subsistence farming to commercial livestock farming.”

    He stressed that 5.2 million livestock have been vaccinated against various diseases since 2009 to date in the state. He also said that 1.7 million cattle, sheep, goats and dogs also benefited from free mass vaccination  in the 2013, adding  that  ”800,000 herds of cattle were to be vaccinated against Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) and Black Quarter (BQ). He stressed that 900,000 sheep and goats will be vaccinated against pest de petit ruminants and 2,500 dogs will be vaccinated against rabies,” he said.

    The programme manager said an intensive sensitisation campaign is been carried out for livestock farmers across the state for participation in the mass vaccination program of the state. One of the reasons for the mass vaccination according to Dr. Mustapha Gaidam is to protect the animals against any cross border disease because of the cross boundary grazing of the animals into neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Mustaphq also said that “The cross boundary nomadic livestock husbandry practice makes the livestock vulnerable to diseases”.

    Speaking on the perennial farmers and herdsmen conflicts, the programme manager disclosed that Yobe State has demarcated over 1000 kilometres of cattle routes and beaconed same to check against encroachment and conflicts among these group of people. “We have consistently cultivated mucuna beans and stylosanthesis in Dilawa, Gumsi, Tarajem, Alagarno, Mashio, Gumsa, Nasari/Jakusko, Gujba and Nguru grazing reserves to promote livestock food supplements,” he said.

    He solicited the cooperation of livestock farmers, opinion leaders and veterinary officers to work for the success of the 2013 vaccination campaign in order to ensure increased meat and dairy production in the state”. He noted that the volume of traders from all over the country visiting Bayamari, Potiskum, Gaidam, Yusufari, Garin Alkali, Gashua and Nguru livestock markets had increased significantly.

    A beneficiary of the free vaccination campaign Umar Musa, a resident of Dikumari village told our correspondent that he has never benefited from any free vaccination of animals from government since he started rearing animals. He explained that he spends the sum of N30, 000 annually for the vaccination of his animals, stressing that the financial burden is now off his shoulders. Umar thanked the governor for the gesture but added,” I hope that all the other Fulanis in faraway places in the bush will also benefit from this gesture.”

  • Driving immunisation in Yobe

    Driving immunisation in Yobe

    Life and property are not the only things lost to the Boko Haram insurgency in the North. Healthcare delivery is also terribly affected.

    Take immunisation, for instance. Before the insurgency, it was difficult getting families to release their children for the all-important inoculation to save them from such deadly diseases as polio. But with the onslaught of the insurgents, the immunisation outreach got worse.

    Thankfully, some organisations, many of which foreign are persistent in driving the medical safety programme through. Donor agencies like the Department of International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom and the Government of Norway through PRRINN-MNCH especially in Yobe State since 2007 is no doubt helping the state towards achieving Goals 4 and 5 of the Millennium Development Goals aimed at improving the lives of mothers and children.

    Recently, however, some of the donor agencies had to reappraise their commitment to the state vis-à-vis the safety of their staff.

    While the  state Social Mobilisation Committee on Polio was fighting  to overcome the campaign against  non-compliance in some communities of  Gujba, Damaturu, Tarmuwa, Bursari, Gaidam,  Potiskum, Yunusari, Karasuwa and  Fune local government areas of the state, the spate of the attacks has even made it more difficult for such campaigns to be carried out.

    Against this backdrop, the state government has devised other means of overcoming immunisation coverage in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Health Mohammed Bello Kawuwa while briefing reporters in Damaturu boasted that the state has achieved 96 per cent coverage in routine immunisation in the state, through the engagement of members of local communities in areas with daunting security challenges.

    He noted that the ministry of health now recruits and trains people living in those communities to deliver the needed services for the state.

    Dr. Bello Kawuwa said, “Knowing that polio is now localised, the ministry has organised a special mobilisation team, a health promotion team which embarks on free immunisation campaign and when the  immunisers come around, this special mobilisation team will now follow so that any case of non compliance are reported.

    ”Members of the team include Ulamas and community leaders who go from house to house to sensitize householders on the importance of the immunization and how safe the drugs are and though we get dots of non-compliance, people usually get satisfied with explanations they get from the special mobilizers Routine immunization is targeted at polio and other vaccine preventable diseases and Yobe state government is up and doing and when recently we reviewed the success so far, we were able to confirm that we have reached 96% of the target group which is a good coverage. So the security challenges have not much affected government’s effort towards ensuring that the routine immunization programme goes successfully”, he said.

    He added, “When we compared the trend now and what it used to be before some years past during the hot season we discovered that record of spinal meningitis infection has drastically reduced or even disappeared in our medical record,” he said.

    Dr. Bello Kawuwa said the state government is employing all measures to tackle the recurring cases of polio in some parts of the state which is due to security challenges

    He also noted that constant attempt to eradicate the disease is due largely to technical and operational problems as a result of the insecurity situation in the state with the result that some children in certain local governments are being missed either by the immunisation personnel or by the deliberate refusal of their parents to present them for immunisation.

    The commissioner emphasized that the emergency declaration on the health sector by Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam is has yielded tremendous result  with the  renovation  and equipping the 12 General Hospitals and eight Comprehensive Health Centres across the state, in addition to engaging specialized personnel in all hospitals in the state.

    “Government established a Primary Health Care Management Board to boost primary health care delivery, improve the 20 General Hospitals and Comprehensive Health Centres for the secondary health care sector.

    “We are in partnership with specialists from University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, in Yobe, among others, to provide specialised manpower to the hospitals, and to make health care delivery accessible and affordable in the state. The ministry has also developed a human resources document, with short and long term plans, to address the personnel needs of health institutions in the state,’’ he said.

    Dr. Bello Kawuwa said government had been procuring N20 million worth of drugs and consumables monthly, to sustain the ‘’Free Drugs and Medical Treatment for Pregnant Women and Children’’ program of the state government.

    “It is gratifying that the Health Insurance Program  in six Hospitals and other deliberate measures adopted by government, had grossly reduced maternal mortality and child morbidity in the state,’’ he  said.

    The Nation checks gather that communities in Gujba and Gulani are still inaccessible due to the high spate of Boko Haram attacks in the area. Only God knows how many children in those areas are suffering from the polio virus.

  • NBA, Sagay back extension of emergency rule

    NBA, Sagay back extension of emergency rule

    Some prominent lawyers in Lagos on Wednesday backed the extension of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

    The lawyers, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the state of emergency should be retained to enable the government restore peace to the areas.

    It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan on May 14, 2013, imposed the emergency rule on the three states experiencing the activities of insurgents.

    Jonathan on Tuesday sent a request to the National Assembly seeking approval for an extension of the state of emergency.

    A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), told NAN that the Nigerian military had not achieved much with the previous powers granted them to tackle the insurrection.

    Sagay said the recent abduction of some students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno, was an indictment on the military.

    He, however, urged the National Assembly to grant Jonathan’s request, adding that the military should be given another opportunity to deal with the situation.

    Sagay also advised the president not to remove the state governors of the troubled states, as being suggested by some persons.

    “People talking like that are ignorant and they thrive in gross unconstitutional acts.

    “No power exists in the Nigerian Constitution for removal of governors because of the declaration of state of emergency,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Yinka Farounbi, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, called for a collaborative effort in addressing the security challenges in the states.

    “The state of emergency should be extended but the Federal Government must work hand-in-hand with the various state governments to make sure the campaign against Boko Haram is sustained.

    “As a start, the Federal Government should provide military protection for all schools, markets and other public infrastructure in those areas,’’ Farounbi said.

    Another lawyer, Mr Wale Ogunade, said the state of emergency should continue till the situation is brought under control.

    Ogunade also advised Nigerian politicians to stop playing politics with the security challenges and work together toward bringing stability to the areas. (NAN)

  • Community honours Yobe APC chair

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe State has elected ward, local government and state officials, and Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, Special Adviser to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam on Political and Legislative Affairs is the state chairman of the party.

    The state congress was held under a peaceful atmosphere at the Cultural Centre along Maiduguri Road in Damaturu. Thirty-four other elective positions were also filled at the event.

    A former governor of the state Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim who moved the motion for the adoption of all the candidates informed the gathering that all the stakeholders were involved in the consensus process. He describe the motion as a “big responsibility with few words of expression”. His motion was seconded by the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo and wild acceptance from the delegates.

    In his remarks, Gaidam expressed happiness over the maturity of the stakeholders in Yobe, describing them as “law-abiding”.

    “All our previous congresses have been done on consensus without any problem. I am confident that this will not be an exception. We have always achieved our consensus in Yobe because all of us are law-abiding and loyal party members. I am happy with this internal democracy that our dear state is always imbibed.

    “I want to put on record that all these would have been achieved without the involved and wide consultation of all the stakeholders involved. I call on all to give out new leaders the desired cooperation to succeed so that together we can push out PDP out of Aso Rock Villa.

    The returning officer of the APC Usman IYA Abbass praised the consensus initiative of the state stressing that his work in the state became easier with the consensus, describing it as a model for the country.

    After his was unanimously elected as the new chairman of the APC in the state, Dogo’s his community comprising of Gujba/Gulani gathered in Damaturu, the state capital to honour one of their own for attaining such an exalted position in the hierarchy of the state.

    Though such honours are expectedly done on home soil, however the volatility of Gujba/Gulani Local Government areas at the moment due to Boko Haram attacks forced the people to move to Damaturu to honor their son,  Alhaji Mai Mala Buni.

    Speaking at the occasion Mr. Ahmed Mustapha Goniri who is also the Commissioner of Justice in the state, noted that it was such a day of joy for the community for one of their own to be elected in such an exalted position in the party in the state.

    While extolling the sterling leadership qualities of the Yobe APC chairman, Barr. Ahmed took time out to commend Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam for the peaceful conduct of the election which brough Mai Mala Buni to the position.

    In his views, the Director General of Yobe Islamic Centre Dr. Zaji Bunu called on the new chairman of use his position to make more enemies than friends, stressing that leadership comes from Allah and the same Allah can strip one off from it.

    Dr. Zaji Bunu also admonished the the chairman not to forget the trust of the people that elected him into the office, while calling on him to imbibe an all inclusive government and consult widely before taking any major decision so as to avoid mistakes.

  • Tears for the abducted girls

    SIR: I can’t imagine how life would have been for the abducted teenage girls. Everyday, countless thoughts skip through my heart. Sometimes I feel pain inside me. Why do we have to be citizens in a country where poor ones are helpless? This is a country where not much value is attached to human lives.  Sometimes, tears roll down my cheeks in fears and hopelessness.
    Sometimes I ask rhetorically – had it been these girls are my biological sisters, surely, I know that my house would have been flooded with tears now; tears of grieve, pain and sorrow. I am worried day and night because of the fact that no one knows the conditions in which these girls are right now. These heartless terrorists might have turned them to sex objects or subjected them to hard labour. No one can vividly confirm if they are even alive.
    The most painful thing is the lackadaisical attitude of the federal government in handling the situation. It is not an ideal to continue to exchange words with the governors of these affected states as the federal government has been doing. The governors might have been frustrated too with way and manner innocent lives are being lost in their states. This is a critical issue that ought to have been handled with all seriousness. I am always amazed at how successful these terrorists have been able to carry out the attacks in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states without serious challenge from the security agencies.
    Isn’t this a testimony that some of our leaders have a hand in these acts? We must wake to reality that we need a change in the style of governance in this country. We must not continue to live like this.
    I always wonder how heavy the hearts of the mothers of these girls might be. But despite all these delays, I still hope that the Nigerian Army would be able to bring these girls back to their families alive. The most unfortunate thing which I don’t pray to happen to them is the loss of their innocence in the hands of these lions in human skins. I pray for the safety and release of these sisters as soon as possible.
    • Safiya Abdulganiyu,
    IBB University, Lapai-Niger State

  • UTME holds in Yobe amidst tight security

    The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was held without any security breach across all centres in Yobe state.

    The exam was held in major towns of the state including  Damaturu, Gashua, Potiskum, and Geidam.

    Our correspondent who monitored the exams in Damaturu and Potiskum observed that heavy security measures were taken as candidates were screened from the gate of the institution by stern-looking security men even before they got to the venue of the exams.

    Investigation revealed that some centres in the state from Buni Yadi were merged . The centre at Federal Government Girls College Potiskum was also merged with Federal College of Education (Technical)Potiskum.

    Most of the candidates who spoke with The Nation were grateful to God for seeing them through the exams, just as many expressed fear before the commencement of the exams.

    Hafsat Abdullahi informed that her father registered her in Yobe but she came from Maiduguri.

    “Because of the uncertainty in Maiduguri, my father decided to register me in Yobe. I thank God that i have written the exams successful”, she said.

    Musa Mohammadu said  “ I am just happy that Allah has seen us through”.

    Meanwhile, security was tight at every centre of the exams across the state as the security battle to prevent an possible attack from unknown gunmen.

    Many were seen patrolling  as the examination lasted.

    No official of JAMB was ready to speak with the press as many of them that were approached turned down the reporter’s request.