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Tag: Zamfara State

  • Yari is a two faced governor, Says Marafa 

    Senator Kabir Marafa of Zamfara State on Friday again took the state governor, Abdulaziz Yari to the cleaners.

    According to him, Yari is a two faced governor who praises President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja and abuses him in Zamfara State.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also:Presidency defends Kyari over contract scam allegation

    Asked his reaction to Yari’s threat that he was going to resign as the chief security officer of his state due to increased insecurity, Marafa said “I heap a lot of blame on you the media the way and manner you handled it and number one culprit is the state house of Assembly.

    “If I was a member of the State House of Assembly I would have initiated impeachment of the governor because he lacks conscience, then the media ought to have done much more than what they did.

    “This is part of the problem we have as a people, when problems happen in other states they tend to be overblown but when they happen in another state nobody cares and Nigeria is supposed to be seen as one country.

    “For a chief executive to come out publicly to say that he has resigned as the chief security officer of a state he or she is supposed to accompany that statement with a resignation,” he said.

    Marafa added “You cannot be spending state funds on security and lives and property are not safe, number one responsibility of any government is protection of lives and property any person that cannot protect the lives of people he superintends he or she is supposed to resign.

    “I don’t have to call on him to resign, this is something that every Nigerian is supposed to say and he himself if he has conscience and he knows what leadership is all about and he is quite knowledgeable in Islamic and if he took the teachings of Islam very seriously he would have resigned in the real essence of the word rather than making mere pronouncements that he has resigned as chief security officer.

    “You only take the sunny side of government but the ugly side you say you are not responsible. When it comes to the money of Zamfara state he is  the governor of Zamfara state, when it comes to the protection of lives of the people of the state then it is President Muhammadu Buhari that is responsible and the worst thing that I always say is that this is the first person that has unfettered access to the President.

    “Now have you been telling the president the truth, this is where the challenge lies, when he comes here he tells you that the president is doing very well, when he goes back to the state he says security is not his responsibility but that of the President and he didn’t do it,” he stated.

  • Zamfara Deputy Governor cautions youths against violence

    Zamfara Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, has cautioned youths in the state against any form of violence before, during and after the 2019 general elections.

    Wakkala, who is a gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), gave the advice while addressing his supporters from the 14 local government areas of the state at his residents in Gusau on Thursday.

    He urged youths to shun any form of violence, thuggery and avoid anything that will disturb peace and stability in the society in the name of politics.

    “We should cooperate and work together for the development of Zamfara State; we should not be allowed to be used for political violence and thuggery.

    “You know the situation we are facing in Zamfara today, we should continue with prayers and seek Allah’s intervention to the security challenges we are facing.

    “I thank you for the support, you gave to me, and Insha Allah I will work on the mandate you gave to me. I will continue to stand for you.

    Read Also: Over 3,000 repentant bandits surrender weapons in Zamfara, says deputy governor

    “I am happy with the kind of trust, solidarity, support and encouragement you are giving to me, and I am giving you assurance that we will continue to work together”, he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the deputy governor has failed to secure the support of Gov. Abdulaziz Yari and APC leadership in the state who are backing another aspirant for the position.

    The governor and the state APC leadership have claimed that the party stakeholders had since endorsed the state Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu-Idris, as the party’s governorship candidate.

    The deputy governor and other aspirants had since kicked against the decision, saying there was no consensus on who becomes the governorship candidate of the APC in the state.

    Other governorship aspirants seeking APC endorsement include, Alhajic a retired Federal Permanent Secretary and Sen. Kabiru Mafara, representing Zamfara Central.

  • Why I want to be Zamfara Governor – Aminu Sani-Jaji

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on National Intelligence and Security, Aminu Sani-Jaji (APC, Zamfara), on Thursday said he joined the 2019 governorship race to “clear the mess of previous administrations and reform Zamfara.”

    The lawmaker who represents Kaura-Namoda/Birnin-Magaji of Zamfara State in the Green Chamber made the statement  in Abuja after obtaining the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship nomination form.

    He also opposed any supposed zoning arrangement being proposed by a section of party stakeholders in the state.

    According to him, it was an “imposition” and an “illegality.”

    He said: “I am not in agreement with imposition. I am not in agreement with illegality, because when we were in our stakeholders’ meeting in Zamfara State on Wednesday  I said it before everybody that I had shopped the money for my nomination forms; therefore, what you are trying to do is illegal and I am not a party to it.

    Read Also: NAF hits more bandit camps in Zamfara

    The nomination form, he said, is a step towards making Zamfara greater and launching her along the path of reforms, especially with regard to education, security and social infrastructure.

    “This form is going to reform Zamfara State and clear all the mess done by the previous administrations. It is going to change our educational system, insecurity and state of our social infrastructure.

    He said he was poised to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s ambition in 2019 and joining the governorship race has proved his political detractors and enemies of democracy wrong

    “Before I got this form, they tried to make sure the Secretariat did not sell this form to me because they know that I am part of those that are praying that President Muhammadu Buhari returns in 2019.”

     

  • Hajj 2018 tragedy: Three APC chieftains die in auto crash

    Tragedy struck the Zamfara State chapter of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday , when the  party lost three council chairmen in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

    Killed were  Jafaru Gidan Sambo of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area, Mudi Mallamawa of Shinkafi LGA and Abdullahi Shugaba Ruwan Dorowa of Maru LGA.

    The trio died in a bus crash 120 kilometres from Madina while travelling from the holy city to Makkah.

    But Nasiru Anka of Anka LGA, Tafa Nasarawa Bukkuyum of Bukkuyum LGA and Garba Ziti of Gummi LGA survived the crash.

    Commissioner in Charge of Health Matters, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Dr. Ibrahim Kana, confirmed the development.

    He said the Saudi authorities called to inform  Nigerian officials  of the accident.

    The corpses were immediately moved to the King Fahd Hospital, Madina while the survivors were rushed to a hospital near the scene of the accident, on the outskirts of Madina.

    Kana said that a team of Nigerian medical team had been dispatched to Madina, on the orders of NAHCON chairman, Abdullah Mukhtar Muhammad, to liaise with the Saudi authorities for necessary documentation and burial arrangements.

    The recent incident brings the number of pilgrim deaths in the holy land to 10 this year.

     

  • Air Force kills several bandits in Zamfara forests

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Tuesday that several armed bandits have been killed through air strikes in the forests of Zamfara state following intelligence reports on the locations of the bandits.

    According to the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the Air Task Force of Operation Diran Mikiya carried out the attacks against the bandits in Bayan Ruwa and Rugu Forests in the eastern axis Zamfara state.

    Read Also:Soldiers to rebuild public infrastructure destroyed by bandits in Zamfara

    Air Commodore Daramola in a statement further revealed that the bandits’ warehouses and make shift structures in Rugu Forests were destroyed during the operation which was conducted with the support of ground troops.

    Air Commodore Daramola said : “In continuation of operations to flush armed bandits out of the Northwestern part of the country, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has, between 25 and 27 August 2018, successfully neutralized several armed bandits at BAYAN RUWA and RUGU FOREST in the Eastern part of Zamfara State.

    “The attack on BAYAN RUWA was executed following an encounter with a notorious group of armed bandits by own ground forces whilst conducting clearance operations on 25 August 2018. The troops called for close air support and the ATF dispatched a ground attack aircraft as well as an attack helicopter to the location.

    “The aircraft supported the ground forces of Sector 3 to inflict maximum damage on the criminal elements.

    “On 26 August 2018, an attack helicopter on armed reconnaissance around same location sighted makeshift structures within a forested area suspected to be a new hideout being developed by the bandits that survived the attack of the previous day.

    “The helicopter subsequently engaged the location. Some of the bandits, who were seen attempting to flee the location, were mopped up by subsequent follow-on attacks.

    “Similarly, armed reconnaissance missions conducted on 26 and 27 August 2018, revealed the presence of some armed bandits at a settlement East of HAYIN ALHAJI as well as some warehouse-like structures deep inside RUGU FOREST that were being used as hideouts by the bandits. Several armed bandits and a considerable number of rustled cattle were seen around one of the makeshift warehouses.

    “Accordingly, the warehouses and the criminals operating there were attacked by the combat helicopters leading to the destruction of the makeshift buildings and neutralization of several armed bandits.

    “The ATF will continue to dominate the area through armed reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to completely decimate the armed bandits in order to ensure a return to normalcy in Zamfara and other States in the North West. All persons involved in armed banditry in the area are therefore advised to renounce violence, surrender to security agencies and hand over their weapons.”

  • Air Force kill bandits, leader in Zamfara forests

    The Nigerian Air Force says more bandits have been killed in their hideouts inside Zamfara state forests and therefore appealed to remnants of the bandits to surrender themselves and their weapons to the Government authority.

    The spokesperson of the Air Force, Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said in a statement that the attacks against the bandits were carried out after an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance platforms have established the presence of the bandits and their kingpin in the area.

    The statement reads: ”  The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA, on 15 and 18 August 2018, successfully degraded several identified hideouts of a notorious armed bandit kingpin.

    “The attacks, which were executed in support of ground troops in Sector 2 of Operation SHARAN DAJI, were planned based on credible intelligence that the kingpin and his group of armed bandits were using an abandoned primary school in SHAMASHALE as well as some makeshift settlements in nearby RUGU Forest in the Eastern part of ZAMFARA State as bases for their operations.

    ” The attack at SHAMASHALE was conducted on 15 August 2018, following further confirmatory Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that revealed the presence of several armed bandits in the area.

    ” Accordingly, the ATF dispatched 2 combat helicopters to attack the location. During the attack, some bandits carrying sophisticated high caliber weapons were seen trying to flee the area. Some were on motorcycles carrying AK-47 rifles and, rather than dropping their weapons and surrendering, attempted to shoot at the helicopters; hence they were neutralized.

    Read also: 55 Babies die daily in Niger State  

    ” Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted on 16 August 2018 confirmed that the kingpin’s main hideout had been severely degraded and human intelligence (HUMINT) sources later availed pictures of some of the slain bandits. Items recovered from the armed bandits include 2 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), 2 AK 47 rifles, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 2 mobile phones.

    ”  The adjoining settlement camps within RUGU Forest, which had earlier been confirmed by HUMINT sources to be inhabited by only bandits, were attacked on 18 August 2018. A ground attack aircraft and 2 combat helicopters struck the camps in successive waves; first targeting the shelters and then executing follow-on attacks to ensure the threat posed to the local villagers was adequately dealt with.

    ” The ATF will continue to dominate the area through armed reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to completely decimate the armed bandits in order to ensure a return to normalcy in Zamfara and other States in the North West.

    ” All persons involved in armed banditry in the area are therefore advised to renounce violence, surrender to security agencies and hand over their weapons.”

     

  • 30,000 to benefit from FG’s small-scale loan in Zamfara

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said on Tuesday that 30,000 persons would benefit from the Federal Government small-scale loan Zamfara state.

    Osinbajo said this while inaugurating some projects at Talata Mafara, Zamfara.

    Read Also:Two million Nigerians get BoI loans

    He said that the Federal Government was committed to tackling unemployment among Nigerians, especially youths.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had already engaged 2,363 graduates from the state under the Npower programme.

    He attributed the security challenges confronting the country to the severe unemployment situation in the country.

    According to him, 8,446 persons have been employed under the National School Feeding Programme involving 1,223 schools.

    Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari commended the Federal Government for introducing various loan schemes on agriculture.

    Yari said that the facilities would promote farming activities this year.

    He then appealed to the Federal Government to establish a rice factory in the state considering its potentiality in agriculture.

    This move, he said, would enhance farmers’ productivity.

    NAN

     

  • Benue State Account freezing, unconstitutional, says NGF

    Says EFCC action will shut down govt

    Hails Osinbajo for DSS boss sack

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari on Wednesday said that freezing accounts of Benue State government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was an attempt to shut down the state.

    Yari, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), also described the action of EFCC as unconstitutional, and wrong especially as the state was still battling with security challenges.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He urged the Federal Government not to allow security agencies to become lawless.

    He said “The freezing of any account of the state government whether Benue or anywhere is unconstitutional and is not right. That is shutting down government. Government must spend, most especially Benue that is facing insecurity challenges.

    “Well, we don’t know why the EFCC took the action. But if indeed EFFC freezed the account, from my point of view, it is wrong.

    “This government will not sit down and oversee unlawful operation from the security agencies. From what happened yesterday (Tuesday, Daura sack), everyone can understand that government is following due process and the laws of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Benue and Imo travesties

    “For one to just send security agencies to shut down the National Assembly, and the action that followed, that is what gave credit to this government by local and international community.

    “Similar thing had happened in 2011 and 2014 respectively, but nothing was done about it, this time around, government said enough is enough. But the government of Muhammadu Buhari is following due process and will never oversee an unlawful activity by any security agency. So in the case of Benue, I believe something must be done.” he said

    Also speaking to State House correspondents, Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano state condemned Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by security agents, saying that the legislature must be allowed to operate according to law.

    He said: “To use security agencies in trying to prevent them from doing their own normal legislative functions, i think it wrong.

    “But I have to salute the acting President for taking immediate action in order to save the situation.

    “The National Assembly is a very important institution and we not embarrass ourselves and allow foreigners to view us as undemocratic. It’s very important.

    “The situation now has been corrected. It is something that  is unfortunate, we have to move forward.” he added

  • Air Force bombs bandits in Zamfara, scores killed

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Friday said scores of armed bandits have been killed through air strikes near Mashema Village and at another location 4km southeast of Yanmari, all in Zamfara state.

    The new Air Force Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement that air raids were carried out on the locations of the bandits with NAF Alpha Jet aircraft and the support of ground troops resulting in the deaths of several of them.

    Read Also:Buhari deploys fighter jets after Zamfara bandits

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “OPERATION DIRAN MIKIYA has recorded some early successes, as Nigerian Air Force (NAF) combat aircraft neutralized several armed bandits during air attacks near Mashema Village and at another location 4km Southeast of Yanmari, both in Zamfara State.

    “On 1 August 2018, ground troops, while on clearance operations near Mashema, came in contact with a group of armed bandits at a location West of Mashema Village and therefore requested for air support. Accordingly, a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft from Katsina and an Mi-35M from Gusau were scrambled.

    “In close coordination with troops on the ground, the combat aircraft engaged the bandits’ location with rockets and cannons neutralizing several of them and causing a few survivors to scamper in different directions.   The 2 aircraft subsequently pursued the fleeing bandits and thereafter neutralized them in follow-up attacks.

    “Similarly, while on armed reconnaissance on 2 August 2018, a NAF combat helicopter located over twenty armed bandits dressed in black attire with stolen cattle in their custody, in an open field near Yankari and Hayin Alhaji villages.

    “The bandits, a few of whom were mounted on motorcycles, began to disperse on hearing the sound of the helicopter but were engaged by the helicopters’ machine guns. Several armed bandits were neutralized in the air attack while a few survivors, seen fleeing the location, were taken out in subsequent follow-up attacks.

    “It will be recalled that OPERATION DIRAN MIKIYA, which commenced on 31 July 2018, is an intensive air operation aimed at locating and neutralizing armed bandits and other criminal elements in the Northwest with a view to restoring normalcy in the affected areas.

    “The Operation will be sustained, in coordination with sister Services and other security agencies, to stop killings, cattle rustling and other criminal activities. Accordingly, the NAF continues to solicit credible intelligence from locals, traditional rulers, local government chairmen and other government functionaries to facilitate the success of the operation”.

  • Killings: We will stabilize Zamfara, Birnin-Gwari soon – Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai has assured that, the military will soon stabilize the troubled areas of Zamfara state and Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna State.

    The Chief of Army Staff gave the assurance during his routine operational visit to troops in Kafanchan and Kachia in Kaduna state.

    Buratai who said his visit was aimed at inspection of ongoing projects and assessment of combat readiness of the troops in the field, said plans have already been put in place to restore normalcy in those troubled areas.

    Speaking to newsmen after the tour, Buratai said, “This is routine operational visit to see the troops, to look at what we have in Kaduna, the school of artillery and to see some of the infrastructure that have been put in place, to see what the troops are also doing in respect of operations.

    “This place is one of the Nigerian Army’s Forward Based Operations, which we later developed into a full battalion. We just acquired some of the equipment needed by the battalion, which we will soon start using in the area.”

    Speaking on over 200 motorcycles which he said would be deployed to the area, he said “This is internal security issue going on, and this is something that we must prepare for. The troops have to be on alert to maintain security.

    Read Also: Buratai restates commitment to end insurgency in North-East

    When asked the reason why it is difficult to stabilize the troubled areas of Birnin Gwari and Zamfara state, having restored peace in Southern Kaduna, the Army Chief said, “nothing is making it difficult. Be rest assured that those places will be stabilized very soon.

    “We reinforcing our troops there, we are reinforcing our equipment as well. We are adjusting the deployment in that area. We are getting the relevant platforms to ensure all the security agencies are able to deal with those security threats.” He said.

    The Army Chief had earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Chief of Kaninkon, Malam Tanko Tete and Emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa MuhammaduMuhammadu where the two traditional rulers had expressed appreciation to the army and the government for the restored security in their domains.