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Tag: Zamfara

  • Banditry: Senate approves N10bn intervention to assist displaced persons in Zamfara

    The Senate has proposed that a N10 billion intervention be made part of the 2019 Budget to assist persons displaced by banditry in Zamfara.

    This followed a motion by Sen. Kabiru Marafa on Wednesday at the Upper Chamber.

    The Senate further called for establishment of a 10-year Presidential Initiative to cater to the needs of displaced persons affected by banditry in the state.

    Presenting the motion, Marafa said recent public protest staged in Abuja and Nigerians in the Diasporas was a reaction to the deteriorating state of insecurity in Zamfara.

    He said there was need to commend those who staged the protest for their show of support and to sustain the solidarity.

    The lawmaker lamented that the activities of armed bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers for ransom in villages and communities had remained unabated in the state.

    “The activities of these armed bandits and cattle rustlers have since 2011 to date, resulted in the death of many people.

    “This is in addition to creating humanitarian crises which included, but not limited to, growing number of widows, rape victims and orphans

    “A conservative estimate of 11,000 male adults have been killed by armed bandits, leaving behind an average of 22,000 widows, at 2 wives per person and an estimated 44,000 orphans, at an average of 4 children per deceased.

    “Owing to cultural and religious consideration, the burden of these widows, orphans, rape victims and displaced persons are borne largely by close relatives.

    “Their needs are borne by extended families and sometimes immediate neighbours, who are now overstretched to a point they can no longer cope,” he said.

    The lawmaker also said the killings had brought untold hardship on several families who had to accommodate displaced persons and families, over stretching accommodation, scarce food, clothing and other necessities.

    According to him, the negative consequences arising from the crisis and the need for more humanitarian interventions for the growing number of widows and orphans had become necessary.

    He therefore urged the senate to commend all Nigerians who, irrespective of cultural, religious and tribal differences, came out in their number to show solidarity to the plight of their brothers and sisters in Zamfara.

    Read Also: Senate set to override Buhari’s veto on two bills

    He further urged the senate to make provision for the sum of N10 billion in the 2019 Appropriation as Intervention Fund to cater for the IDPs and other persons affected by the activities of armed bandits in the state.

    He equally urged the Federal Government to set up an Adhoc Committee to be known as Presidential Initiatives on Zamfara State (PIZAMS), with a 10 year life span to manage the said funds and subsequent allocation and donations.

    Contributing, some lawmakers recommended the creation of State police and constitutional amendment to devolve more powers to the states as part of solutions to the problem.

    They said the three-month ban on the use of commercial motorcycle imposed by the state government would go a long way in addressing banditry in the state.

    The lawmakers equally noted that the only way to tackle the numerous security challenges in the country was to decentralise the Nigerian Police Force.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said until Nigeria began to look at the possibility of establishing State Police, the country would continue to have security challenges.

    He expressed concern at the turn of events in Zamfara, saying the state used to be very peaceful.

    Saraki charged relevant authorities not to rest on their oars in nipping the crisis in the bud.

    The president of the senate put the recommendations to voice vote and they were unanimously adopted.

  • NAF strikes bandits in Zamfara, destroys 8 camps, kills scores

    The Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday said it had carried out successful air strikes on 8 camps of armed bandits in Zamfara state, killing scores of them in the operations.

    It added that those who escaped with wounds are being pursued by ground troops to the border towns between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

    The spokesman of the Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said in a statement supported with a video clip that the operations were carried out in Sububu, Rugu, Doumborou and Kagara forests.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) for Operation DIRAN MIKIYA has continued to record successes in its renewed air offensive against armed bandits in Zamfara State and its environs.

    ” The air strikes, which were intensified on 8 April 2019 with the deployment of additional aircraft, are aimed at flushing out the bandits from their hideouts in Sububu, Rugu and Kagara Forests, amongst others, whilst ensuring the protection of the lives and properties of citizens in the Northwest of the Country.

    “On the first day of the intensive operation, the ATF conducted coordinated air raids against multiple identified armed bandits’ hideouts at Doumborou, Sububu, West Malamawa, Baturia Pond and Rugu Forest, where several bandits were neutralized and their camps destroyed.

    ” Yesterday, 9 April 2019, the ATF conducted waves of attacks against several targets. The first wave struck 3 armed bandits locations within Sububu Forest as well as another camp in Kagara Forest.

    ” Targets attacked in the second wave were notable armed bandits’ hideouts at Kamarawa, Kunduma and Tsamare Hill, while the third wave focused on armed bandits hideouts in Doumborou.

    Read Also: NAF destroys bandits’ logistics Base in Zamfara

    “The ATF also provided close air support‪ to surface forces of Sector 2 to enable them move into the attacked areas to mop-up the fleeing survivors and recover their weapons. ‬

    “In all, the ATF degraded 8 camps and neutralized scores of armed bandits.

    ” ‪Reports indicate that, ‬as a result of the air strikes, ‪some of the bandits are fleeing towards the border ‬between Nigeria and Niger Republic‪.

    “Accordingly, the ATF is liaising with relevant authorities to ensure that the bandits are prevented from escaping through the Southern part of Niger Republic.‬

    “The NAF, in consonance with surface forces and other relevant authorities, will sustain its efforts to end the scourge of banditry and other related threats to life and safety in the Northwest of our dear nation. “

  • ALGON wants civilian JTF armed to fight bandits in Zamfara

    The Zamfara chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), has urged the Nigeria Police Force to permit the Civilian Joint Task (CJTF), to carry rifles to ease the fight against bandits in the north western state.

    Its chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Umar, made the appeal on Wednesday in Guau, during a Stakeholders Security Town Hall Meeting with the acting IGP, Mohammed Adamu.

    He said that members of the CJTF, who were recently recruited by the state government to complement the effort of security agents, were conversant with the terrain of their respective areas and could identify most of the criminals operating around them.

    Represented by the Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Area, Dr Auwal Moriki, the ALGON boss regretted that the military had written to the state government requesting the withdrawal of the JTF.

    “We believe that withdrawing the CJTF is not advisable because we have seen how determined these youths are, in the fight against the bandits. We are confident that having received training from the armed forces, they can do the job.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Buhari cuts Dubai trip short, returns to Abuja

    “If they can be closely supervised by the Police while they handle the weapons, the challenges will certainly be surmounted and we are confident that this can be achieved,” he said.

    Also commenting on the matter, the representative of the CJTF, Mr. Ibrahim Muhammed, commended members of the CJTF for their bravery but acknowledged that there were some bad eggs among the security agents.

    “One of the major challenges we realised is that Police prosecutors often drop charges against hardened criminals that had confessed to committing atrocities when they get to the courts.

    “Ultimately, such criminals are set free and they return to threaten those they suspect reported them.

    “We are ever ready to do our best to curb the activities of these terror groups, but we need your support, prayers and the cooperation of the security agents we work with,” he said.

    Also contributing, the representative of the Council of Ulama in the state, Dr Aliyu Jangebe, called on leaders to be just and fair to all citizens, while citizens must pray for the leaders.

    “We may have individually or collectively offended God and we need to seek His forgiveness and help for us to see the end of this problem,” he advised.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting was attended by traditional and community leaders, as well as herders and farmers.

  • Don’t take advantage of security problems, Yari warns politicians

     

    Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has accused politicians of taking advantage of the security problems in the state to advance their selfish interest.
    Broadcast journalist Kadaria Ahmed led a group of protesters in Abuja, yesterday, describing Mr Yari as the most useless governor in the history of Nigeria.
    In a statement on Sunday, while welcoming protests, Governor Yari believes that certain selfish individuals hijacked the entire process.
    “ On Saturday, April 6th, 2019, some protesters came out in the Nigerian Capital Abuja,  Kaduna and Sokoto cities to voice out their anger and displeasure over the security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the Northern states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto.  Again, in the city of London in the United Kingdom, some other  protesters also visited the Nigerian Embassy in London  to summit letter of protest to the Nigerian government over the same security situation in Nigeria.
    “ Public protests are essential ingredients of the democratic system. Therefore, as a  democratically elected Governor of Zamfara state, Sen-elect Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar appreciates the concern shown by the protesters both in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom. The protesters didn’t do anything wrong for exercising their rights.
    “ It’s however important to highlight certain key issues in order to understand the bigger picture of the reality of the situation in Zamfara State. Scratching the surface of a complex issue may lead to wrong conclusions.
    “ The essence of any government anywhere is security. No responsible government would fold its arms to watch its people being killed and their property being destroyed, thereby impoverished further by bandits attacks. Many of the protesters apparently had no idea about the billions of Naira the Yari administration committed to security and his efforts to assist our security personnel in terms of logistics and equipment.
    “ In trying to understand and tackle our security challenges, however, it is unhelpful to look for simplistic answers or engage in shadow chasing. Gov Abdulaziz Yari is particularly concerned about the activities and utterances of politicians who are desperately bent on taking advantage of our security problems to advance their own sinister agenda. The politicisation of people’s misfortune is not only irresponsible, but downright reckless and unpatriotic. These conflicts merchants are not actually concerned about the people, they are concerned about fishing in troubled waters.
    “ It isn’t so much surprising though, that the protesters were largely people from outside Zamfara state who do not have a glimpse of the security situation in the state. This is why they allowed themselves to be used cheaply by those  policians who lost out,  but are bent on destroying the state at all cost. And once protesters allowed themselves to be used by politicians, they may ultimately destroy their own credibility. To hold Yari solely responsible for insecurity in Zamfara State is not only wicked and mischievous, but it is also clear evidence of the attempt to hoodwink Nigerians in order to make him the scapegoat. Other States have insecurity challenges just like Zamfara, but their governors were not held accountable for by their people.
    “ Instead, prayers of good – will and encouragement were showered on them. like other governors, Yari expended billions of Naira to support our security personnel, but mischief makers are playing down this aspect of the story,  because their own agenda is to bring him down for their own advantage.
    “ The protesters should have put Zamfara people at the back of their minds before allowing themselves to be used by those policians who feel if not them, let everyone else go to hell. It is unfortunate that the protesters did not even understand the magnitude and dimensions of the security challenges in Zamfara state.
    “ If the protesters had understood the bigger picture of the complex security situation in Zamfara State, they wouldn’t have solely blamed Yari personally responsible for the security failure in the state. Take the case of our porous borders and the proliferation of small arms in the hands of kidnappers and cattle rustlers.
    “ Another angle that the protesters ignored is the role of people within the affected communities who serve as informants to the bandits and kidnappers. Yari has held countless meetings with community leaders and even suspended and dismissed some traditional rulers for their linkages to the criminals and negligence that led to the bandits using local people for information and protection from detection.
    “ Can you say that a governor who went to this extent is doing nothing over insecurity? Have the security agents complained that Yari is not giving them active support and cooperation in the war against banditry? Has the President refused to send troops to the effected States?
    “Some politicians who are behind the protesters are using insecurity to fight Yari because of personal grudges and not because they actually care about the victims of insecurity in the Zamfara State.”

     

  • Bandits kill 50 civilian JTF members, others in Zamfara

    No fewer than 50 persons, including members of the Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF) have been killed in a fresh raid by bandits in Zamfara State.

    Speaker of the State House Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, said yesterday that the  CJTF had confronted the bandits in Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.

    Rikiji who was on a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda emirate decried the worsening security situation in the state.

    “We were told that the members of Civilian JTF had mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50 persons including members of CJTF,” he said.

    Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional, saying “confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.

    “Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.

    He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domain to avoid taking laws into their hands.

    Read also: Zamafara: APC insist it will present candidates for 2019 elections

    “This is the directive from governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

    “We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at assisting them.

    “The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.

    Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.

    He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allah’s intervention over the security challenges in the state.

    “We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumu’at Mosque and Ulamas to offer special prayers in this regard during Jumu’at prayers,” the emir said.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.

  • Bandits kill 50 civilian JTF, others in Zamfara

    No fewer than 50 persons, including members of Civilian Joint Task Force(CJTF) were killed in Zamfara by bandits on Tuesday, Speaker of the Zamfara State House Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, stated on Friday.

    Rikiji, who revealed this during a condolence visit to Kaura Namoda emirate, attributed the incidence to CJTF confrontation with bandits in a community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

    The Speaker, who led the state government delegation on the visit, decried the worsening security situation in the state.

    “We were told that the members of Civilian JTF have mobilised people from Sakajiki community in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area and confronted the bandits in the forest which led to the killing of over 50 persons including members of CJTF,” he said.

    Rikiji, who is the Chairman of the State Government Relief and Damage Assessment Committee, described the act of the CJTF as unprofessional, saying ”confronting the bandits is not the duty of CJTF members.

    “Their duty is to support security personnel to carryout operations not to lead operations; only security agents have the right to organise operation to confront bandits,” he added.

    He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution CJTF members in their respective domain to avoid taking laws into their hands.

    “This is the directive from governor Abdul’aziz Yari that CJTF members should not confront bandits again; let them cooperate with the security personnel.

    “We have already received the list of the number of the deceased and other affected victims from the local government Chairman aimed at assisting them.

    Read Also: Better equipped bandits?

    “The state government would provide assistance to the families of the deceased and other victims of the incident very soon,” he added.

    Responding, the emir of Kaura Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Asha, thanked the state government for the gesture and assured of his palace’s continued support and cooperation with government to address the problem.

    He said the emirate had embarked on special prayers to seek Allah’s intervention over the security challenges in the state.

    “We have already mobilised our Imams of Jumu’at Mosque and Ulamas to offer special prayers in this regard during Jumu’at prayers,” the emir said.

    The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, thanked the state government for the assistance to the victims.

    Abdullahi assured of the council’s continued support to the state and federal government in fighting insecurity in the area and the state.

  • UNICEF to Fed, state govts: recruit more female teachers in North

    The United Nations Children’s Fund has urged the federal and state governments to employ more female teachers in schools in northern Nigeria .

    UNICEF said this will drive girls’ enrolment in schools and eradicate the out-of-school children growing population.

    It stated this during the release of two reports: “Effect of Female Teachers on girls’ enrollment and retention in Northern Nigeria, and C4D Assessment in Basic Education” on Wednesday, in Abuja.

    UNICEF said the effects of female teachers on girls’ enrolment and retention in Northern Nigeria were positive, going by its research reports conducted in eight states in the north.

    Some of the states are; Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Taraba.

    The reports said some schools in urban and rural areas will need to recruit 58,121 females across 17,576 rural schools and an additional 3,775 female teachers across 4,225 in urban schools.

    The UNICEF reports said: “To provide additional perspective on the magnitude of female teacher deficit in both urban and rural areas, we calculate that in the eight states under study, rural schools will need to hire about an additional 58,121 females across 17,576 rural schools and an additional 3,775 female teachers across 4,225 urban schools.

    “This deficit is much more significant in rural schools where on average, each school will have to hire additional three female teachers.”

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    The UNICEF reports also recommended that female teachers being posted to rural areas should be given adequate financial compensation to attract first rate candidates to the teaching profession.

    “One approach that teachers and head teachers have mentioned in this report is that teachers with rural posting must be provided with allowances to compensate for the quality of life discrepancies between living in urban and rural areas.

    “Another recommendation is helping female teachers navigate the societal and gendered expectations of their dual roles as caregivers and professionals. This is critical to increasing the number of female teachers in rural schools.

    “Also like male teachers, female teachers are consistently motivated by the professional development and career advancement opportunities and would likely take positions in rural schools if those positions are available.

    “The historical shortage of educated women in northern Nigeria must be addressed for the long-term to increase the pool of potential female teachers,” the reports added.

  • Zamfara imposes curfew on motorcycles

    Zamfara state government on Wednesday imposed curfew on commercial and private motorcycles in all the fourteen local governments from 7 pm to 7am.

    Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Bello Dankande Gamji, announced the decision in Gusau.

    The commissioner explained the curfew became unavoidable in view of the security threat bedeviling the state.

    He lamented a woman and her child were abducted recently when she boarded a tricycle to her home.

    READ ALSO: Dusk to dawn curfew imposed on troubled Kajuru LGA

    Dankande, who was flanked by the Commissioner of Police Celestine Okoye, warned the police will be spread in all nooks and crannies of the metropolis enforce the curfew and arrest defaulters.

    He further revealed most of the crimes committed were organised and perpetrated with some commercial motorcycle riders and tricycle operators.

    “We know that the action could be considered harsh or hard on our people but such measures are must be taken in order to safeguard our people, protect lives and property, ensure that peace prevail in all corners of our state,” Dankande explained.

  • Army kills bandit, rescue women in Zamfara

    One bandit and two members of vigilante group popularly known as yan sa kai were killed in an encounter at Fegin Kanawa community of Tsafe local Government Area of Zamfara state.

    The attacked was carried out by the bandits around 11:40 pm on Saturday.

    A source disclosed to our reporter that the bandits unleashed the attack by making their presence known with a sporadic gun shooting that broke their peaceful sleep shattering the calm night and sending shear terror to their minds.

    Army deputy director public relations, Major Clement K. Abiade confirmed the incident revealing that the military that were in constant patrol of the area responded quickly and were able to rescue two women who were already reunited with their families.

    Abiade disclosed that the military will continue provide peaceful atmosphere to the vast populace and curtail activities of the bandits in Zamfara state while constant patrol will be on daily basis.

  • Army set to flush out bandits in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina

    THE Army 8 Division is set to conduct an internal security-based exercise, code named: “Ex Harbin Kunama IV” in Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

    The exercise, which aimed at flushing out armed bandits and insurgents groups from identified forest areas and strongholds, is scheduled to hold from April 1 to June 30, 2019.

    Deputy Director, Army Public Relations of the division, Major Clement Abiade, stated in a statement through WhatsApp that the aim of the exercise “is also to bolster the confidence of the people of the region to go about their daily lives unhindered under the security umbrella of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

    Members of the public, according to the statement, were advised not to panic on seeing increased movement of troops, armoured vehicles, equipment and sound of firing arms in the designated exercise and operation areas.

    Read also: We have recorded success against Boko Haram – Army

    Major Abiade added that necessary control measures were already put in place to ensure that no one is harm as a result of the exercise.

    Consequently, a news conference in this regard comes up today at 1 Brigade Conference Hall, (former Government Quarters), off JB Yakubu Secretariat, Gusau, Zamfara State by 1.30pm.