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Tag: Zamfara

  • Bandits abduct North Korean doctor in Zamfara

    A North Korean doctor attached to Tsafe local government general hospital in Zamfara state, Dr Jen Sunail, has been kidnapped.

    Sunail, a physiotherapist, was abducted by suspected armed bandits on Monday.

    Residents stated the bandits cordoned the town at around 9:00 pm and went straight to the staff quarters of the hospital where the expatriate doctor was whisked away.

    Findings revealed that Dr. Sunail was posted on contract between North Korea and Zamfara state.

    The abductee has been stationed in Tsafe general hospital for over three years.

    Bandits have been constantly terrorising Tsafe, Danjibga, Yan doto, Yan waren Daji, Kwarin Ganuwa and Keta for weeks.

    A resident of the local government, Mustafa Mu’azu, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to do everything within his powers to curtail activities of the bandits.

    He said they have been kidnapping, raping women, looting and killing in Zamfara state.

    He said without troop intervention, the insecurity in Zamfara state may escalate to uncontrollable level.

    Police Public Relation Officer of Zamfara State, SP Muhammad Shehu, confirmed the incident when contacted.

    He revealed the abduction has been reported to the DPO attached to Tsafe local government headquarters by Dortor’s colleague Dr. Li Dong.

    Shehu, in a statement, explained: “On the 26/03/2019, around 945hours, Dr. Li Dong reported to the police that his colleague Dr. Jeng Sunail was not seen in his room inside the staff quarters he shared with other three persons working in the hospital.

    “The Commissioner of Police, CP Celestine Okoye had directed the state criminal investigation and intelligence department (CIID), state intelligence bureau (SIB) and anti- kidnapping squad team to commence investigation and search and rescue and unveil the circumstances behind the missing of the expatriate doctor.”

  • Zamfara: Appeal Court has vindicated us, says Marafa

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum, Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa (APC, Zamfara) has hailed the judgement of the Appeal Court, Sokoto division, which set aside the ruling of the Zamfara State High Court on the All Progressives Congress (APC), primaries tussle in the state.

    The Appellate court on Monday set aside the ruling by Justice Bello Shinkafi of the Zamfara State High Court on the APC Governorship, National and State Assembly primaries.

    In his reaction to the judgement, Marafa, a leading governorship aspirant in the state, said it has shown that “truth will always prevail over falsehood.”

    He said: “I have always believed that the Zamfara State High Court ruling was nothing but a black market judgement that can never stand legal scrutiny.

    “The Appeal Court judgement has rekindled the fact that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.

    “We are all living witnesses to the fact that the APC in Zamfara was unable to conduct primaries and couldn’t reach consensus due to the attitude of Yari, but the Zamfara state High Court judge ruled against the truth.

    “The Appeal Court has today done justice by throwing the judgment of the Zamfara High Court to the trash bin, where it rightly belongs.”

    The ranking Senator, while commending the millions of his supporters for their support, cooperation and patience, urged them to discountenance the release from the Zamfara Government House, claiming that today’s judgement has no effect on their election.

    “The statement by the Zamfara Government House on the Appeal Court judgement is the last kick of dying pigs, not even horses.

    “You can’t build on nothing, APC didn’t conduct primaries, they don’t therefore have candidates in the just concluded elections,” he said.

  • Updated: Court nullifies Zamfara APC primaries for gov, assembly elections

    The Court of Appeal Sokoto Division on Monday set aside the judgment delivered by the Zamfara High Court, allowing the All Progressives Congress (APC) to field candidates in the 2019 Election.

    The appeal was filed by Sen. Kabiru Marafa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) and 129 others through his Counsel, Mr Mike Ozheokome , SAN.

    Respondents are Kabiru Liman-Danalhaji and 139 others represented by Mr Mahmud Magaji SAN as lead Counsel.

    Delivering the lead judgment, which was adopted by two other Justices Tijjani Abubakar and Jamilu Tukur, Justice Tom Yakubu, held that the lower court failed in its duty to properly evaluate the evidence before it.

    Yakubu said judges have the legal power to produce judgment and reach decisions with reason, noting that in the instance case it was not done.

    “I am convinced that the lower Court has failed to evaluate the evidence before reaching the decision.

    Read Also:  Court dismisses suit against conclusion of Bauchi Governorship election

    ” The Appeal Court have power in law to access pieces of evidence on appeal, which we have done.

    ”Based on available facts the respondents did not contradict the INEC evidence on conducting the said primary election” Yakubu said.

    The Presiding judge, said “documented evidence has upper consideration than oral ones”.

    Justice Yakubu held that the plaintiffs being card-carrying party members and aspirants in the said primary election have legal capacity to institute the suit.

    He added that Federal, States and FCT High Courts have jurisdiction to entertain such matter.

    The judges agreed that the judgment should serve as “bitter lesson” for political parties as they ought to follow legitimate guidelines and rules.

    “Domestic affairs of political party activities must act within the confines of the law in dealing with party members and elections” the judges agreed.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that a Zamfara High Court recognised the primary election the produced governorship, state and national assembly candidates held by APC in the state and declared that INEC accepts the party candidates for the elections.

    Unsatisfied with State High Court decision, the appellants, approached the appeal court challenging the decision on the ground that the State High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit among others.

    NAN recalled that similar case was instituted before the same appeal court by Rep. Aminu Jaji, a Governorship aspirant and member representing Kauran Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency and was dismissed after Jaji withdrew.

  • Zamfara bandits better equipped than military, says Yari

    The Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari on Tuesday raised the alarm that the armed bandits terrorizing the state and other states in the North West have more sophisticated equipment than the Nigerian military.

    Yari spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, it was discovered that the bandits have over 500 AK 47 assault rifles in their possession during the meeting the state government team including the military had with the miscreants.

    Yari, who is Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF), said that the meeting was to dialogue with the bandits for them to lay down their arms.

    He regretted that no meaningful achievement was recorded.

    He also said that the government team including the security agents took pictures with the bandits inside their armoury, adding that the only solution to flush the bandits out was the provision of adequate equipment to the military and a show of force.

    Yari welcomed the suggestion by his Katsina State counterpart, Aminu Bello Masari for collaborations between Katsina, Zamfara, and part of Niger Republic to curb the issue of banditry in the North West.

    He said: “Well, I think it is not just state by state matter but a regional problem. Because, we are surrounded by forests. We have Kuyambana to Rugu down to Maradi Republic.

    “The bandits are taking advantage of the fact that we are living like an Island because we are surrounded by forests from Sokoto we have Basuguma around, in Kaduna, Birnin Gwari, Niger, we have Kuyambana Dansado forest there, in Katsina, we have Rugu and at South East of Zamfara where we have Maradi, we have forest there.

    “So as the governor of Katsina said, we have to collaborate. I know our security chiefs meet quarterly to review their performance, the gain and the loss, the same thing goes for our brothers in Maladi.

    “I think the operations need to be carried out simultaneously because the issue is we are surrounded by a forest. The point is, when Katsina puts pressure on the bandits they will run into the forest in Zamfara, if Zamfara puts pressure on them, then they will move to Minna or Birnin Gwari. So this is the issue, so there is need for collaboration.

    “So the soldiers need to be equipped with the equipment that can stand the test of time. Monday, when we were having our security meeting, we could understand the constraints of the security personnel that are on ground there.

    “We are definitely going to collaborate, especially since I am running on the last lap of my full tenure, I will ensure that in these months that are left, we will leave behind a peaceful state for the new administration that is coming in.” he said

    On whether there was the likelihood of having new equipment delivered to the army to confront the bandits he said that the federal government had already given procurement contracts for the supply of military equipment.

    He said, “The federal government has already given procurement contracts, inter-government transaction to the United States, China and other European countries. Recall that in 2017, the Nigeria Governors Forum, approved $1 billion to support the federal government’s effort in equipping the security agencies.

    “We believe the equipment will soon come into the country and it is our hope that the equipment will be used so that this worrisome situation that we are will become history.”

    Ruling out the possibility of having dialogues with the group terrorizing the state, he said that previous attempts made to dialogue with the bandits did not produce any positive results.

  • Zamfara: Marafa worried over delay in setting up appeal panel

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) has written the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, over the delay in setting up of the appeal panel to entertain the Zamfara All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries tussle.

    Marafa who wrote through his counsel, in a letter dated 13th March, 2019 addressed to Justice Bulkachuwa, said the delay in the constitution of the panel is likely going to deny him justice.

    The case number CA/32/2019/ Sen Kabiru Garba Marafa &142 others, was part of the pre-election litigations that trailed the failure of the APC to conduct primaries/ consensus in Zamfara state.

    The letter reads: “My lord, refer to our letter of concern (copy attached hereto) in which we had respectfully requested that the present panel hearing the above appeal recuses itself for the reasons already humbly adumbrated in the said attached letter dated 4th March 2019.

    “The appeal came up on the 13th March, 2019 before the Sokoto Division of the court of Appeal. My Lord to our surprise, the court did not sit but merely sent the court Registrar to inform all counsels and parties concerned that it has recused itself from hearing the appeal; but without any word as to the constitution of another panel to hear the appeal or as to what date the matter will now come up for hearing before a new panel.

    “This letter is therefore a SOS to your lordship to kindly and urgently constitute a new panel to hear our client’s appeal. The urgency of this letter and your timeous action are underlined by the very fact that this appeal is constitutionally time-lined and same will expire on the 27th March 2019 constitutional effluxion of time. Where that happens, the appeal itself would lapse and die prematurely due to no fault of the Appellants.

    “We therefore respectfully appeal to your Lordship to kindly and urgently constitute a new panel to hear our appeal immediately. We look forward to your kind and timeous action, Sir.”

    Marafa further said: “There is a grand conspiracy by the Zamfara state Government with the active support of some former Governors and some Abuja politicians to frustrate the case, so that the 60 days for pre-election mater will elapse. What that means is the case will die a “natural” death and the aggrieved party will not have the chance of going to the Supreme Court for redress.

    “APC constitution vested the powers to conduct primary Elections on its NWC, but the whole world witnessed Gov Yari live on Channels Television with the chairman of his faction, who is now a “member elect” for Kaura Namoda constituency in the State House of Assembly, announcing result of a so-called primaries conducted by the state chapter of the APC (Yari Faction) in the premises of their factional headquarters. This is clearly against our constitution and the party’s constitution.”

    Marafa asked the acting Chief Justice of the Federation and the secretary of the National Judicial Council (NJC), to as a matter of all urgency intervene and ensure the panel is constituted and the matter given accelerated hearing.

    He said, “Looking at the whole issue and the plight of the people of Zamfara state, the matter should be allowed to get to its logical conclusion, in the interest of justice and fair hearing.“

  • Yari presents N135.3bn budget for 2019

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdula’ziz Yari on Monday, presented a budget of N135.32 billion for the 2019 fiscal to the state Assembly for approval.

    Yari said that N62.71 billion was proposed for recurrent expenditure while N72.61 billion was earmarked for capital expenditure.

    According to Yari, the N72.61 billion allocated the Capital Expenditure would go agriculture, livestock, forestry, manufacturing, power supply, transport, commerce, cooperatives and finance.

    The governor explained that Transport sector was allocated N15.38 billion, Agricultural, N3.45 billion; Power Supply, N2.55 billion; Manufacturing, N1.13 billion.

    Also Livestock takes N570 million; Forestry, N160 million; Fisheries, N85 million, while Commerce, Cooperatives and Finance was allocated N125 million.

    He said that the Social Service Sector was allocated N22.96 billion, representing 32%, with education getting the highest allocation of N11.170 billion.

    ”This is followed by Health with N8,450,000,000.00, Information with N1,645,000,000.00, Youth with
    N830,000,000.00 and Social Welfare with N865,000,000.00,” he said.

    He added that the Environment Sector would receive N16.59 billion, representing 23% of the budget size.

    Yari thanked members of the House
    for their support, encouragement, understanding and cooperation throughout his tenure.

    ”This hallowed chamber is indeed the backbone of our success.

    ”I, therefore, commend your contributions to the general success of our administration from
    inception to date.”

    He also thanked people of the state, saying: ”I cannot thank you enough for your immense support, cooperation and understanding that enabled us to fulfil most of our campaign promises, especially during the turbulent times in the history of our state.

    ”I deeply appreciate your prayers, patience, and understanding throughout our moments of trial.

    ”This cooperation from you has remained our source of hope and strength.

    ”I wish to call on the entire people of our state to extend their legendary support and cooperation to the incoming administration which is going to be a government of continuity so that it will succeed the same way this administration had succeeded.”

    Responding, the Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, pledged speedy passage of the budget. (NAN)

  • How APC won Zamfara elections in 24 hours, by Yari

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has attributed the successes recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the Feb. 23 and March 9 general elections in the state despite the party’s crisis to “divine intervention’’.

    Yari disclosed this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC was allowed to field candidates for all the elections in the state only a week before the first day of elections (Feb. 23) when a Court of Appeal in Sokoto, Sokoto State, reversed an earlier decision of a lower court, which had banned the party from the elections.

    The Zamfara State Collation Officer, Prof. Kabir Bala of the Ahmadu Bello (ABU) Zaria, had announced that the APC Presidential candidate, President Buhari, won the Feb. 23 presidential election in the state with 438,682 votes while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, scored 125,423 votes.

    Bala also disclosed that the APC had won the three senatorial seats and the seven seats in the House of Representatives from the state in the Feb. 23 presidential and parliamentary elections.

    He said the APC governorship candidate won the state governorship election with 534,541 to defeat Bello Muhammad Mutawalle of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 189,452 while the APC also won all the 24 seats in the Zamfara State House of Assembly.

    Yari, who spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday, said he was happy with the outcome of the elections, saying that it was God that gave this political victory to the APC in the state.

    He said: “You know the turmoil that Zamfara elections put on Nigeria, disagreements upon disagreements, from the party to court and then to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which disagreed.

    ”Then, we went back to court and finally under 24 hours, we were cleared and we were back on the ballot box.

    “Only God has done this and given us the victory.

    “I am very happy with the outcome of the elections. I also want to appreciate my people, despite the fact that some people felt I was carried away by the activities at the centre, insinuating I abandoned the seat, especially with the security problem, but the people are aware of what the administration has been doing and they appreciate it.

    “Despite the daily attacks, the security agencies were up and doing and their presence in the state was well appreciated by the people.

    “They also appreciated the efforts of Mr President which took us to where we are. Like I said only God could have done it.’’

    The governor also disclosed that he had succeeded in reconciling all the aggrieved APC aspirants in the state.

    He said his pass experience as party chairman in the state, member, House of Representatives and governor for eight years had helped him to restore peace and tranquility within the governing APC in the state.

    “In my state, there were only seven or eight people contesting for the governorship position and I have said it that if I could preside over primaries where 18 people contested and succeeded, why can’t I manage eight, nine or 10 in my state?

    “I have been on ground since 1999 to date and I know the system and how it works.

    “I have been party secretary, party chairman, House of Representative and a two-term Governor, is with this experience that I was able to manage.

    “Unfortunately, there were a lot of misunderstanding between the party in the state and the national body but in the end we ended in the court and the court gave the verdict and INEC compiled.

    “Though, it came late, but if you are with the grassroots definitely everything must work well.

    “The people appreciated what we have been doing and when it came to voting, they voted wisely,’’ he added.

    Yari, whose tenure as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum would expire by May 29, expressed the hope that the forum would remain united and work in tandem with the federal government’s agenda.(NAN)

  • Bandits kidnap 3 in Zamfara

    Bandits have kidnapped three persons after an attack on Fegin Mahe a village near Maru local government of Zamfara state.

    A resident of the village, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent when contacted on phone, said the attack took place around 1 am on Friday.

    He said the bandits were in hundreds shooting sporadically in the air but did not kill anyone.

    He further thanked the military on surveillance in the area for their quick response, explaining the bandits ran away on spotting military vehicles.

    He however said they escaped with their three victims.

  • Breaking: Bandits kill 40 in fresh Zamfara attacks

    Less than 24 hours after Zamfara State Governor Abdul Aziz Yari swore to deal with bandits, no fewer than 40 persons have been killed in two communities of Shinkafi and Anka local governments.

    The governor had ordered security agencies to deal ruthlessly with bandits before the latest attack.

    The bandits, who move in high number on motorcycles, were said have attacked the community and Danjibga in the local government areas by residents.

    Read Also: 30 killed in fresh Zamfara carnage

    Police Public Relations officer in Zamfara, SP Muhammad Shehu, couldn’t confirm or deny the casualty figure in the latest attack when contacted by our correspondent.

    He however said further information would be provided at a briefing later today.

    When contacted on phone, Army spokesman of Operation Sharar Daji confirmed the two incidents.

    He said the casualties and extent of damage in the attacks will be released later, stating the Commander- in- Charge of the operations has arrived the area to provide security and get on- the- spot assessment.

  • 16 killed, 40 abducted in Zamfara attack

    No fewer than 16 persons were killed and 40 abducted as bandits invaded Kawaye in Bagega village of Anka local government in Zamfara state at about 5pm on Tuesday.

    Several cars, houses and shops were burnt to ashes and an unspecified number of animals and foodstuffs carted away.

    Army Spokesman of operation Sharar Daji Major Clement Abiade confirmed the incident but disclosed to The Nation that the army could not be specific on the number of persons killed, the amount of property damaged and the number of persons injured at the time of compiling this report.

    Read Also: 20 kidnapped by bandits in Zamfara

    Abiade who also confirmed that it was a reprisal attack disclosed that the military attached to operation sharar daji were immediately deployed to the area and succeeded in killing five of the bandits, stressed that they are investigating and compiling the damage.

    He however disclosed that the army will interact with journalists on Thursday by 2pm.