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Tag: Yobe

  • PDP’s apology, good for democracy – IPAC

    Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council ( IPAC ) in Yobe, Alhaji Umar Kukuri, on Tuesday said the admittance of past mistakes by the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) was healthy for Nigeria’s democracy.
    He told the News men in Damaturu that the admittance of shortcomings by the party was a sign of political maturity and could create confidence in the electorate.
    “When you have glaring shortcomings, there is no point denying and insisting that you are right; the admittance of shortcomings indicates political maturity and democratic growth in the party.
    “The admittance of PDP to its past mistakes has turned a new page in the political life of the party,” Kukuri said.
    He said that politicians owed Nigerians apology when they failed and deserved to be lauded when they improved the lives of the people.

    Read Also: Kashamu petitions INEC over Ogun PDP exco

    “As Nigerians, we should collectively encourage any government that has performed irrespective of our political differences and not just to criticize because we are in the opposition.
    “The joy of any true democrat is to see the lives of his people improved under whatever party in power.
    “We will encourage performing governments whether from our party or any other, because we are in politics to see improvement in the lives of our people,’’ he said.
    The council chairman also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting that the last three years had been challenging and turbulent.
    “This admittance is exemplary of a leader and should be emulated by politicians and other public officers to strengthen democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

    NAN

  • Committee conducts surgery on 38 patients in Taraba

    The Presidential Committee on North-East Initiatives ( PCNI ) says it has so far conducted surgeries on 38 out of the 2,000 patients it treated in Taraba, under the one week free medical outreach scheme.

    Dr Gabriel Toma, Head of Surgeons, who disclosed this to journalists in Takum, said the surgeries include appendectomy, hernia, Myomectomy, caesarean section among others.

    He said the scheme, which began on Tuesday, might not reach the 170 target surgeries, given the limitation of personnel and the curfew imposed on the area.

    Toma, however, assured that the team would try its best to conduct qualitative surgeries within the time available.

    Also speaking, PCNI’s Head of Humanitarian, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Dr Sidi Mohammed, said the free medical outreach initiative was aimed at reaching out to the less privileged in the society.

    He said the scheme focused especially on those who fled insurgency in the North-East.

    “At the height of the insurgency, most people, including health workers were displaced and could not afford to pay medical bills.

    ‘’ So the programme is designed to reach out to such categories of people.

    “We have another medical programme specifically for those in Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) camps, but only 10 per cent of the displaced people are in the camps.

    Read Also: The President goes to Taraba

    ”So that is why we are here in General Hospital, Takum to reach out to as a many as possible.
    “During our one week outreach programme here, we will be treating people of various ailments and conducting minor and major surgeries and attending to other health needs of the people,” he said.

    The News men reports that the scheme is in collaboration with Pro-Health International and the West African Association of Surgeons.

    He said PCNI had conducted free medical outreach in Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba under the first phase of the scheme.

    Mohammed also said the second phase of the programme would commence on April 8, to last for two weeks, adding that it meant to enhance people’s greater accessibility to health.

    Mrs Juliet Hananiya, Programme, Manager, Free Health Care, Pro-Health International, said the partnership which began in 2017 had helped a lot of patients suffering from hypertension, ulcer, diabetes, malaria, among others.

    One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Mr Richard Sak, who said he battled hernia for six years, commended the Federal Government and its partners for the assistance.

    NAN

  • Buhari dispatches four ministers to Dapchi

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered four ministers to proceed to  Dapchi in Yobe for update on the release of the female students abducted in February.

    The Ministers include Mansur Dan-Ali, Defence; Abdulrahman Danbazau, Interior; Lai Mohammed, Information; and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim.

    The four ministers left the weekly Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) meeting for the trip to Dapchi.

    Before their departure, the Information Minister confirmed that 76 of the released girls had been documented.

    According to him, when the girls were dropped in their school by the abductors many of them went straight home to reunite with their parents.

    “I can confirm that the Dapchi girls have been returned, what we can confirm to you is that Mr President did actually assure Nigerians that the abducted girls would be released, but he also said that violence and confrontation would be ruled out.

    “Based on that, the Federal Government with support of friendly countries embarked on back term negotiations; this back term negotiation has led to the release of these girls.

    “What I can confirm today is that these girls were released yesterday, but on the conditions, number one is that they were released unconditionally; no money changed hands.

    “Number two, they had one condition to return them to where they picked them.

    “So in the early hours of today they did return the girls but of cause most of the girls went to their parents homes,’’ Mohammed stated.

    According to him, efforts are now being made to document all the girls, adding that at the moment, 76 of them have been documented while “they are still more.’’

    He promised to give update on the incident from time to time.

    “It is a day of joy for Nigerians. What I can assure you is that Mr president has kept his promise.

    “The girls have been released and we will tell you exactly in a few hours time how many of them have been documented.

    “They were not molested,’’ he added.

    Also, Defence Minister, Mansur Dan-Ali attributed the early release of the girls to “the effort of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces for the support he has been giving us and the output is showing now.”

    Read Also: Buhari greets Merkel, Putin on re-election

    On the negotiations, the minister said that while it was being planned the government was prepared to move on a position of strength.

    Also Minister of state for foreign Affairs, Khadijat Abba-Ibrahim said: “I am very excited today. That is what I feel because the Dapchi girls have been released.

    “We are very happy. We have achieved what we have gone out to achieve and we thank the Almighty God for his mercies.”

    She declined to mention if any of the girls was killed.

    “As far as I know now, they are taking a roll call so we cannot ascertain how many have passed on, but we will find out later on what the casualties are.’’

    The minister advised parents not to be discouraged by the incident but to continue encouraging their female children to embrace education.

    “I will advise parents to continue sending their children to school.

    “We as a government will fortify the schools to make sure that they are safe for the children to actually go and learn,’’ Mrs Abba-Ibrahim said.

    NAN

  • Buhari to meet Dapchi girls’ parents in Yobe

    President Muhammadu Buhari wil today meet with parents of the 110 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram on February 19 in Dapchi, Yobe State.

    They will be among the stakeholders at the parley in the Yobe State Government House in Damaturu during a one-day presidential visit.

    Buhari has visited Taraba, Plateau and Benue states, where killings by herdsmen took place. He is also due to visit Niger State tomorrow.

    Yobe government officials said yesterday that the President is not likely to visit Dapchi, unless there is a last-minute change in plans.

    Some of the parents confirmed to our correspondent yesterday that they had been invited to the Government House in Damaturu for the meeting.

    “For us the parents of the missing girls, Our message to him is very clear; he should ensure that our daughters return safe and on time to us,” one of the parents said.

    President Buhari on Monday told outgoing United State Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, that he preferred to negotiate the release of the girls rather than a military option.

    The chairman of the Forum of Dapchi Abducted School Girls Parents, Bashir Manzo, said yesterday.

    “Yes, we have been contacted to meet with the President tomorrow in Damaturu.  I am leaving Dapchi today to sleep in Damaturu.”

    He also urged the president to work fast in trying to rescue their daughters and reunite them with their parents.

    There was heavy security in Damaturu yesterday ahead of the visit.

    A detachment of security personnel including army, police and Civil Defence Corps were deployed in strategic locations.

    The August 27 Stadium where the president is expected to land from an Air force helicopter enroute Maiduguri International  Airport had been taken over by security with Armored Carriers mounted at the front of the stadium.

    Some of the parents spoke on their expectations in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.

    Manzo the chairman said to negotiate the release is “a welcome development and we are happy about it.

    “Use of force, as the only option, will result in death of many of the girls while negotiation provides for their safe return.”

    The chairman, who encouraged government to go for dialogue to hasten return of the girls, said “the fact that the insurgents provide room for negotiation gives us hope for safe return of our daughters.”

    Alhaji Baba Shehu, Secretary Dapchi Youth Development Association, also described the negotiation option as a healthy development.

    “Government should deploy resources at its disposal to take this advantage and ensure safe return of the girls” he said.

    Alhaji Ali Mohammed, a father of eight of the students, described negotiation as the only safe option for the insurgents to release the girls, saying he was happy “government had considered this option of negotiation”.

    Maryam Alkali, a mother, said every mother would appreciate the option that will bring the girls back home safely.

    “Let me state without fear of contradiction that every mother of the abducted girls will now have a strong hope for reunion with these girls” she said.

    Malam Mustapha Imam, another parent, said “If government had resorted to military option alone, it may jeopardize the safety of the girls, so the option of negotiation is a welcome development.”

    He however called on government to take strong precautionary measures in safeguarding every school in the country, especially those in the Northeast.

    “Government has to invest heavily on security, especially in equipment, manpower and intelligence gathering for improved security,” Imam said

  • Yobe governor ‘okay with Fed Govt’s response’

    Yobe governor ‘okay with Fed Govt’s response’

    Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam is pleased with the plans being put in place to bring back the abducted Government Girls Science and Technical School, Dapchi, students.

    He urged the Federal Government to intensify aerial survelliance to rescue the girls and enhance security in the state.

    Gaidam spoke when he received the Presidential Committee on the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the 110 students.

    He praised the Buhari Administration for its committed zeal in fighting insurgency in the Northeast.

    He said the visit by four delegations sent by the Federal Government underscored its commitment to rescuing the schoolgirls.

    The governor also commended the Army for acting with dispatch and realigning the check points in Ngelzarma and Damagum to strengthening security.

    “I am optimistic that with the kind of inspiring concern exhibited by the Federal Government, other patriotic Nigerians and, indeed, the international community, we will intensify our efforts until all the girls are found.”

    He added: “Our hopes are raised and we remain in high spirits that right steps and strategies are continuously being put in place to ensure that the missing school girls are returned to their parents in good health

    ”During our interaction, I requested for the deployment of soldiers to Dapchi due to the fact that it is the headquarters of a frontline local government in which a girls’ boarding school with an enrollment figure of about 1000 girls is located.

    “I am glad to note that the Nigerian Army has acted with dispatch on that request by deploying soldiers to Dapchi. I have also noted that some army checkpoints, like those in Ngelzarma and Damaturu, have also be realigned in order to respond to any security threat to schools at various locations in the state.”

    The chairman of the committee, Vice Admiral Victor Adedipe, told the governor of their mission, stressing that the committee was expected to meet with various stakeholders to unravel the circumstances that led to the abduction of the girls.

    Vice Admiral Adedipe said, among other things, that they are expected to get the exact number of the girls abducted, measures to locate and rescue the girls as well as any other information which can lead to the resolution of the crisis.

    National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno raised the 12-man committee. Other members are: representative of the   Army, Navy and Air Force; representatives of National Intelligence Agency, NIA; Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA; Nigeria Police Force, NPF; Department of State Services, DSS; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC; two representatives of Yobe State Government and a representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    The panel is expected to submit its report on March 15.

  • Women pray for safe rescue of 110 school girls

    Women pray for safe rescue of 110 school girls

    Task FG to rise up to security challenges in Nigeria

     

    Women under the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) have taken  time off to pray for the safe rescue of the over 100 Dapchi, Yobe state school girls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgent.

    The women also urged the Federal Government to rise up to the security challenges in parts of the country, particularly in the northern part of the country.

    The prayers took place in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

    Speaking on the abduction of the girls, South-West Women Leader of the church, Mrs. Florence Alashi said: “We urge the Federal Government to do something about the girls.

    We pray that very soon they will return to their homes. But we can only pray that the FG will not take things lightly this time around. Government should take it seriously because of the homes that are affected. Even those of us that are here, we are also affected as mothers.

    “It is not going down well with us. I will implore all of us not to relent in our prayers to the God that is all knowing and can do all
    things for this kind of thing to stop in this country. As any of us can fall victim of the incident.”

    The prayers were parts of the activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary conference of the women fellowship of the church.

    The conference is slated for Wednesday 7th and 10th of this month in Igbaja, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara state.

    Earlier, Chairman, Central Planning Committee Emmanuel Malomo said ECWA as a whole had been one of the hardest hit by the activities of the Boko Haram Islamists. Said Pastor Malomo: “On the part of Evangelical Church Winning All as a whole not just the women fellowship, we are not happy about the happenings in Nigeria.

    Over six thousand members of the church are affected. Even in the recent kidnap. Scores of our pastors have been abducted, some killed as a result of the security challenges in parts of the North. Great number of ECWA churches have been burnt down in Yobe, Borno and other parts of the nation by these Boko Haram terrorists.

    At present, we are want to challenge the Federal Government of Nigeria to rise to the security challenges in the country. Even as the church continues to pray.

    “Government should do more to secure the lives of our children, these are the future leaders of this country. That is our prayer and
    commitment. For us as a church we will join forces with security outfit there to secure the lives and properties of our people.”

    On the 2019 elections, Pastor Malomo enjoined members not to shy away from their civic rights by participating in the ongoing continuous voters registration exercise.

    “It is our sole responsibility to register and get our voter’s card. In fact, if we are part of the nation and we want the country to grow
    and want the economic to be effective and we want the government to do the right thing we have to express our constitutional right in voting for the right people in the nation.

    “As a church we have saddled our members to come out en-mass and register in the ongoing voter’s registration exercise. It is necessary.

    As far as we are concerned in ECWA, we do not belong to a particular party, but as electorates we have the right to vote.”

  • Dambazau directs relocation of IGP, NSCDC boss to North-East

    Dambazau directs relocation of IGP, NSCDC boss to North-East

    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt.-Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, has directed the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, and the Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ), Abdullahi Muhammadu Gana, to relocate to the North-East to ensure the deployment of their personnel to all schools in the liberated areas in the three states.

    The minister gave the directive in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Mr Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to Osaigbovo, the minister also directed that the I-G and NSCDC Commandant were to liaise with the Theater Commander of “Operation Lafiya Dole”, to carry out the task.

    The statement quoted Dambazau as saying that the I-G and Gana were also to liaise with the governors of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa to ensure the deployment of their personnel to all schools in the liberated areas in the three
    states.

    ” This directive is sequel to the recent visit of the Federal Government delegation led by the Ministers of Interior and Information and Culture to Dapchi in Yobe.

    ” Where the Interior Minister, retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau then directed the Commissioner of Police and the Commandant of the NSCDC in Yobe to ensure security presence in all schools in the liberated communities,” he said.

    Osaigbovo also quoted Dambazau as saying that the directive had become necessary to forestall a re-occurrence of attack on innocent school children.

    Dambazau said that the government was making efforts aimed at rescuing the Dapchi school girls and other Boko Haram captives, as evidenced by the commencement of 24-hour air surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force.

    Osaigbovo said the Minister had also condemned the recent clashes that resulted in loss of lives and property in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The minister in the statement urged security operatives to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.

    NAN

  • Dapchi Girls: Stop the blame game, Dogara tells Army, Police

    Dapchi Girls: Stop the blame game, Dogara tells Army, Police

    Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, asked security agencies to take responsibility for failing to stop the abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe, on Feb. 19.

    He said that the buck-passing between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force was unacceptable.

    In a statement by Mr Turaki Hassan, his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Dogara said rather than trading blames, the security agencies should strengthen inter-agency collaboration towards rescuing the girls.

    He said that the statements credited to the Army and the Police in which they tried to exonerate themselves from any culpability in the unfortunate abduction of the girls from their school were highly condemnable.

    “This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible. They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.

    “The traumatic experience of the Chibok abduction which is still fresh in our minds should have served as a warning signal to security agencies to provide adequate protection to all schools in the North-East.

    “I want to use this medium to console the parents of the abducted girls and the entire Dapchi community over this unfortunate incident.

    “I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over to pray for the safe return of the girls,” Dogara said.

  • Yobe medical college hires Egyptian, Nigerian lecturers

    Yobe medical college hires Egyptian, Nigerian lecturers

    The Yobe State University of Medical Sciences has hired senior officials to facilitate the take-off of its programmes.

    Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, in a statement by his spokesman Abdullahi Bego, said the governor had “given approval for the recruitment of additional personnel into the newly-established College of Medical Sciences of the Yobe State University on permanent, pensionable and sabbatical basis.’’

    The statement reads: “The recruitments cover both academic and non-academic cadres. Those recruited include three professors and two PhD holders from Egypt and 30 Nigerians, including a Professor of Human Physiology, 18 Graduate Assistants, 11 Laboratory Technologists and Assistant Laboratory Technologists.”

    Governor Gaidam earlier approved the appointment of a provost for the college.

  • Video: All abducted persons will be rescued safely – Buhari assures

    Video: All abducted persons will be rescued safely – Buhari assures

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured Nigerians that all abducted persons by insurgent groups including the schoolgirls from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, would be rescued safely.

    Buhari stated this  when he received three rescued lecturers of University of Maiduguri and the 10 Police Officers’ wives at the presidential villa, Abuja.

    He noted that the  rescue of his visitors  on Feb. 10 was a `very huge relief’ to him and to all Nigerians.

    Cue in audio – Buhari

    “Let me clearly reiterate the resolve of this administration to ensure all persons abducted by insurgents are rescued or released safely.

    “This is especially against the back drop of the recent sad incident where another group of girls were abducted on Feb. 19 from the Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe.

    “I have since directed all security agencies to immediately ensure that every effort is directed to ensure safety of our schools and students as well as bringing back the abducted girls to their families,’’ he said.

    https://soundcloud.com/thenationnewspaper/all-abducted-persons-will-be-rescued-safely-president-buhari-assures

    The president told the rescued persons that apart from their family members, every peace loving Nigerian prayed for their safety and wished them early release from the hold of their abductors.

    “While government was fully aware of the expectations of your families and the general public for their immediate freedom, the path to your freedom was painstaking and protracted.

    “This was because the group responsible for your abduction was not in a particular location but based in different locations that if not properly handled could result in dire consequences,’’ he added.

    He thanked all the various security agencies for their professionalism throughout the process of arranging their freedom.

    He also lauded other agencies of government, sister nations in the Lake Chad region, the International Committee of the Red Cross who had contributed to their safe release.

    Buhari said that the federal government would also work closely with all stakeholders such as the United Nations, donor agencies and voluntary organisations towards rehabilitating and resettling all those displaced as a result of the activities of the insurgents.

    [jwplayer yW2U6NEE]

    On one of the abductees, Jummai Ibrahim, who was about to complete her service year when the incident occurred, the President said: “I suppose the NYSC should give a certificate of discharge to the person that spent the remaining of her Service somewhere else (with abductors).’’

    In his remarks, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Daura, said the abducted NYSC Corp member would have passed out with the last batch in 2017.

    He disclosed that the DSS had chosen the path of negotiation for the release of the victims because it was considered as the safest.

    According to him, any forceful attempt to rescue the victims could endanger their lives.

    He said: “These negotiations took several months and the Department of State Services with support of the external elements of the group in diaspora and support from friendly countries and liaising with International Community of the Red Cross, made the rescue possible.

    “The process was slow due to the problem of dealing with two different groups based in different locations at the same time.

    “In addition, the negotiations took place mostly outside the country, though subsequently finalized in the theatre of operations.’’

    He further explained that the negotiations were mainly centred on an attempt at conflict mitigation which included the fate of arrested members of the insurgent groups especially, accepting to those found not to be culpable in any criminal action.

    The DG further maintained that the negotiation was also centred on the possibility of granting amnesty to those willing to surrender and ready to lay down their arms.

    Dr Solomon Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the abductees, thanked the government and all Nigerians for ensuring their release.

    He said: “While we were in captivity and we said with 180 million or more Nigerians, will Nigeria ever come to rescue us! We lost hope.

    “Sir, you surprised us. After seven months for us in the university and eight months for the 10 ladies, Nigeria rescued us. This shows that the life of every Nigerian is important and is worth rescuing.

    “Sir, we are grateful. You gave us hope when there was no hope And we are excited, we thank you Sir.

    “We also want to appreciate the DSS, the Nigerian armed forces, and the entire team that worked together to make sure we regained our freedom.’’ (NAN)