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Tag: Zamfara

  • Air Force strikes bandits in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it has launched attacks against bandits in their hideouts at Tsamari in Birni Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    In a statement, NAF’s spokesman Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said the air strikes led to the death of scores of bandits and the destruction of their weaponry in the village.

    He said the air interdiction, supported with a video footage, followed intelligence reports confirming the presence of the bandits in the area.

    Air Commodore Daramola said: “The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Diran Mikiya has successfully neutralised an armed bandits’ hideout at a compound in the West of Tsamari in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area) of Zamfara State.

    “The attack was conducted at dawn on December 28, following intelligence reports that the compound was being used by armed bandits as a camp from where they launch attacks against innocent civilians.

    “Accordingly, the ATF detailed a NAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, which confirmed the presence of bandits armed with high calibre weapons at the location.

    “Consequently, an Alpha Jet aircraft was dispatched to strike the compound, recording direct hits on the target area and resulting in significant damage to the structures and neutralisation of some bandits, as later confirmed by credible human intelligence sources. Surface troops later invaded the compound and recovered some motorcycles abandoned by the fleeing criminals.

  • Arewa youths demand military takeover in Zamfara

    The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) wants  full military takeover of Zamfara State, saying only such  a move  can address the current spate of incessant killings in the state.

    Leader of the forum, Bello Abdulhamid told reporters in Kaduna yesterday that the group was in total support of calls  for a state of emergency in Zamfara   with a view to stopping the ongoing killings.

    The   group also  endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term, saying   none of those   contesting against him has what it takes to fight corruption headlong as  Buhari is currently doing.

    He said:”what we are calling for is not a partial state of emergency, but a full military takeover, whereby the Governor will step aside.”

    The AYF,according to him, “ is very worried about what the future holds for the good people of Zamfaraý State and all other States where incessant attacks, killings, kidnappings and banditry have become the order of the day, and Nigeria as a whole.

    “This year alone, hundreds of residents have been killed, others maimed and displacedý. “Also, many were kidnapped and had to cough out their meager resources in this excruciating economic situation to pay ransom for the release of their loved ones. This state of affairs has reached a very disturbing level, hence the recent public reaction of riots against this seemingly insurmountable threat to lives and property.”

    He hailed the courage and patriotic sacrifices being made by “our gallant men and officers of our Armedý Forces, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.”

    He advised the  Service Chiefs and Heads of other security agencies to, “as a matter of urgent national emergency, employ a paradigm shift in their rules of engagement with terrorists, bandits and other criminals by modernizing their security gadgets, purchase digital and state-of-the-art modern surveillance drones and other equipments, in-line with international best practices.

    “They need to have superior fire power iný order to save not only the lives of citizens but our gallant men and officers who sacrifice their lives daily. Ultimately, the sovereignty of Nigeria like any other country in the world needs to be preserved.”

    On Buhari’s endorsement, Abdulhamid said ; “No leader among all of those contesting has his (Buhari’s)  selflessness, integrity, fear of God as a motivating principle and a conscious, resolute and uncompromising drive to face the battle against corruption head on ,as well as serve the Nigerian citizens with all his might, inspite of challenges from the selfish and greedy individuals, who are busy, struggling to truncate his determined efforts to sanitize and serve Nigeria.”

  • Air Force to deploy air assets in Zamfara

    •Saraki: killings unacceptable

    The Air Force has said it will deploy aircraft and other platforms to Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina states to end banditry, cattle rustling, and other crimes.

    Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, who spoke during a visit to the troubled areas, said the security situation in the region required a new response strategy to restore peace and orderliness.

    He said 18 aircraft had been acquired by to respond to security challenges in the country, while 18 were expected in a few months.

    Abubakar added that 13 additional aircraft had been rehabilitated and made serviceable for operations.

    The Air chief, who also visited governors of the three states, praised them for their support to the Armed Forces in tackling insecurity.

    He, however, said security agencies needed intelligence information from locals to track down criminals.

    A statement by NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola said the Air chief inspected the Sultan Abubakar III Airport in Sokoto and other platforms.

    The statement reads: “The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on December 26, visited Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States, for an on-the-spot assessment of the security situations. The CAS visited the governors and interacted with the Commanders, officers and men of Air Force Units.

    “The CAS, who was accompanied by other senior officers from NAF headquarters, embarked on the visit to fashion new strategies for dealing with the emerging insecurity in states of the Northwest affected by banditry.

    “The first port of call was Katsina, which hosts the Headquarters of the Air Task Force (HQ ATF) of Operation DIRAN MIKIYA (OPDM), where he was briefed by the Air Officer Commanding Special Operations Command, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Samson Akpasa, as well as the ATF Commander Air Commodore Ayoola Jolasinmi, on the progress of anti-armed banditry operations in the Northwestern states, before proceeding to Gusau, Zamfara State.

    “The CAS later interacted with the Commander and personnel of 119 FOB, as well as other senior officers in the state, where he encouraged them to intensify their efforts to ensure that the territorial integrity of Nigeria is not undermined in any way.

    “He also appealed to the people of Sokoto to provide useful information that would help security agencies in their operations. Before departing Sokoto, Air Marshal Abubakar opened a water treatment plant at the NAF Base and inspected facilities at Sultan Abubakar III Airport, preparatory to the deployment of NAF aircraft to further boost air operations in the Northwest”.

    He added that Air Marshal Abubakar had visited HQ ATF OPDM, which also served as the Air Component of Operation Sharan Daji (OPSD), and would visit the NAF 119 Forward Operating Base (119 FOB) Sokoto to upgrade facilities to enable the conduct of air operations from Sokoto, for enhanced NAF response capability in dealing more decisive blows on bandits.

    The CAS assured the governors and residents that the NAF, in consonance with the Army and other security agencies, would continue to work round the clock to secure the people and their property.

    The governors thanked Air Marshal Abubakar for the visit, saying the security agencies had been doing their best to curtail banditry, especially since the start of OPDM and the recent Operation 777 under OPSD.

    According to them, however, it appeared the bandits were reacting to the success of the operations by launching a fresh wave of attacks against civilians, regretting that as a result, killings and kidnappings had become daily affairs.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has described the killings in Zamfara State as barbaric, unacceptable. He called on security agencies to devise a strategy to end the ugly situation.

    Saraki, in a statement by media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the Zamfara situation was a demonstration that the Northwest has been engulfed by a bloody situation where human lives are wasted daily.

    He said the killings have gone on for too long and the situation has not gotten the desired attention and the right strategy that will stop it, adding that there was a clear indication of systemic failure.

    The statement reads: “There is need for certain and proper profiling of the situation so that we can know whether it is simple cattle rustling, vicious robbery, religious cum ethnic crisis or invasion by foreign forces.

    “Our security agencies must come up with a proper understanding of the situation, the right strategy and deployment of the necessary troops to tackle the menace. We must, within the next few days, send the right signals to the criminals that the Nigerian state will no longer tolerate the blood-letting.

    “We must change our strategy. Also, the President has to take full and direct control. May be the President must widen the consultation within the armed forces in the search for solution to this problem; he must go beyond the first line military top brass. We need to get ideas from more sources than we presently do.

    “I call on President Muhamamdu Buhari to order the security agencies to give him progress report on regularly. There is need for us to use the Zamfara case to demonstrate to all criminals that the government will not tolerate those who hide under whatever guise to shed human blood in our country.

    “We should look at the Zamfara killings as a major threat to our democracy, particularly as we move towards election in the next 50 days. We should not allow criminals take over parts of the country. The situation in that state is an example of why we need to overhaul our security architecture, to bring it to a state where they can tackle emerging challenges.”

  • Informants fueling insecurity in Zamfara – Yari

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara has blamed the continued killings in the state on informants who support the bandits and kidnappers.

    Yari stated this at a press conference in Gusau on Thursday, urging the people of the state to support the government in tackling the situation.

    He said that both state and federal governments, as well as security agencies, had been making efforts to address the situation.

    Read also: Yari supports ‘State of Emergency’ in Zamfara

    He lamented that informants had made it difficult for security agencies in the state to operate effectively.

    The governor said that most of the bandits and kidnappers received information from people in the state, which he said was “unfortunate”.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was doing his best to end the situation and had deployed more security personnel to the state.

    “Before Buhari’s administration, we have few security personnel in this state, but today we have about 4000 security personnel including Army, Police and Civil Defence.

    “I held a meeting earlier today with traditional rulers and local government council chairmen. We are working hand in hand with all stakeholders to ensure that we end this situation,” he said.

    He urged the people of the state to stop blaming the government for security challenges.

    “I am calling on communities to always support security agencies with information on suspicious movement in their respective areas,” he said. (NAN)

  • Zamfara consoles families of attack victims

    The Zamfara State Acting Governor , Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji,  on Sunday attended the funeral prayers of victims killed by armed bandits in Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

    Rikiji, who is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly,    condoled with the families of the victims and people of Maradun Emirate and described the incident as unfortunate and worrisome.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bandits attacked the village on Saturday around 4 p.m.

    Rikiji said the State Government had been concerned about security matters.

    “It is very disturbing, so distracting the way our people are being killed by terrorists.

    “More often than not, we could not even concentrate and face our work, due to pressures of insecurity in our communities,” he said.

    He urged security operatives in the state to maximise their efforts in tackling the challenges.

    Rikiji noted that the state government had been providing all necessary support to security agencies in the state.

    “We are ever ready to continue to offer any support to security agencies, at whatever cost, in order to address the current security situation in the state,” he said.

    He urged people of the state to continue with prayers to seek Allah’s interventions to end the situation.

    The acting governor also appealed to communities to provide information on security to security agencies for prompt response.

    The heads of security agencies in the state were also in attendance during the prayers.

    In their separate remarks, the Emir of Maradun, Alhaji Garba Tambari and Chairman Maradun Local Government Area, Dr Yahaya Shehu, called for deployment of more security personnel in the area.  (NAN)

  • FG blames bandit attacks in Zamfara, Kaduna on drug abuse

    The Federal Government yesterday blamed the persistent bandit attacks in Zamfara and Kaduna States on drug abuse among the youths in area.

    It called on all stakeholders to join hands to address the challenges, saying within the past three years the present administration and the Armed Forces of Nigeria had committed troops and resources into the fight against bandits especially in the North West zone of the country.

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali in a response to the latest bandit attack in Zamfara State emphasized that series of military/security measures have been taken by the government to tackle the problem.

    In a statement signed by the Minister’s Public Relations officer, Colonel Tukur Gusau,  the Minister insisted  that the Ministry of Defence went as far as approving creation of Army Division and a Brigade among other measures to address the challenges of bandit attacks in the zone.

    He added that the setting up of Operation Sharan Daji, contributed over 1000 troops from the Armed Forces and other Security agencies towards addressing the problem.

    Said the Minister :”The Ministry of Defence under the leadership of Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali commiserates with the government and people of Zamfara and Kaduna States over the recent attacks that claim the lives of law abiding citizens in the states and also lost of properties.

    “The Hon Minister prays to Almighty Allah to grant the lives lost an eternal rest and also grant their families the fortitude to bear this unfortunate lost.

    “However, it is imperative to state that Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria have remained committed and resolute in tackling current security challenges across the country, ensure safety of lives and properties as well as protect the nation from both external and internal aggression.

    “It is pertinent to state that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is currently engaged in various Internal Security operations across the country and has made concerted efforts in tackling the incessant killings by armed bandits and other criminal activities in the North-West particularly in Zamfara and Kaduna states.

    “It is worthy to note that some of the efforts made by the Federal Government include the creation of 8 Division, Nigerian Army in Sokoto and the establishment of a Brigade in Gusau and another one to be located in Birnin Kebbi to address security challenges in the North-West.

    “Also, the Nigerian Air Force Quick Response Force was established in Gusau to give air support to the ground troops. Additionally, 500 troops of Nigerian Armed Forces and 500 other security agents were recently deployed to join Operation SHARAN DAJI to curb the activities of armed bandits and other security challenges in Zamfara and Kaduna states and the region in general.

    “Recently, the Ministry directed the General Officer Commanding 8 Division to relocate his Tactical Headquarters from Sokoto to Gusau to adequately coordinate activities of Operation SHARAN DAJI until normalcy returns in the State.

    “These are all geared towards realizing the mandate of the Ministry of Defence and achieving the Federal Government’s drive on security of its citizens and properties.

    “However, it is noteworthy to state that the issue of drug abuse, unemployment and governance amongst others contributes to the deplorable security situation in Zamfara State.

    “It is therefore suggested that the all necessary stakeholders should come together and take necessary steps to address these issues and to provide adequate support to security agencies so as to get maximum cooperation. “

  • Ogun, Imo and Zamfara on my mind

    Some weeks back, Ogun, Imo and Zamfara states made me recall V.S. Naipaul’s heartrending comic, A House for Mr Biswas. In this book, man’s quest for autonomy from even those feeding him is laid bare. Mr Biswas rebels against his in-laws, whose food he eats and house he lives in. He always wants a house of his own. That, for me, is man in his original state. Imagine what will happen when he now has power and money! The last thing he will like is to take dictation from a yesterday man. He will be eager to show who is in charge and that is where violence comes in when the yesterday man refuses to accept his new status.

    It is for this reason that I do not understand why Governors Ibikunle Amosun, Rochas Okorocha and AbdulAziz Yari are hell-bent on deciding who will succeed them. These men are going about this quest as if without it, their tomorrow is ruined!

    Although Amosun is running to be senator on All Progressives Congress (APC) platform,  his men are in one colourless party, where they hope to rock the APC boat. Amosun has declared that he would not back Dapo Abiodun as his party’s candidate. Politicians do not learn. Amosun’s predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, tried it and it did not work. During the last general election, Daniel’s predecessor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, was against Amosun and he pitched his tent with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he hoped to truncate Amosun’s governorship bid. He failed woefully.

    Yari’s disagreement with other tendencies in Zamfara over his quest to determine his successor has caused the APC heartache. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said primaries were not done and candidates’ list would not be accepted. Now, the party’s fate will be determined by the law court. Yari got so mad with party chairman Adams Oshiomhole and dared him to send a team to the state.

    In Imo, Okorocha wants his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him and this has turned the party in the state apart. Nwosu is now running on Action Alliance (AA) but he is backing President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term. Okorocha is seeking to become a senator on APC ticket. Interesting times!

    In the beginning of the Imo madness, some leaders of the party ganged up against Okorocha and literally took over the party from him. His seeming rescue by the national secretariat has now fallen flat. The crisis has led to a situation where the state has no deputy governor. The House of Assembly removed Eze Madumere as deputy governor, but a court has stalled the installation of a replacement.Okorocha insists he remains impeached.

    For these gods’ sake, I will repeat a story I once told on this space about the futility of giving power to a man and believing he can be controlled from behind. It was told by a governor to a few of us when he was trying to transmute from the National Assembly to the Government House.

    This is the story: The president of the country at the time had contacted him to look for a suitable candidate to be governor in their state. The candidate eventually chosen was not from the zone where power should rotate. By some magic, he was made to originate from the zone to which power was meant to go. A chieftaincy title and a massive house later, he became a member of the zone. He was grateful to the senator for working him to the answer.

    All that however ended immediately he got power. On the day he was confirmed as the governor-elect, he asked the senator to see him. During their meeting, they had altercations and the angry senator wanted to walk out on him and he screamed: “You are walking out on your governor.” Their relationship was sour throughout his tenure and remains sour till this day.

    Perhaps I should draw the attention of Amosun, Yari and Okorocha to what is going on in Akwa Ibom and Kano states. In Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as an outgoing governor some four years ago, bulldozed his way to install Udom Emmanuel as his successor. It did not take long before they started disagreeing on key issues. They managed to keep it under wrap, but it is all out in the open now and the battle line is drawn. There are fears of violence.  Not long ago, Nsima Ekere, who is APC candidate in the state, was suspected to have been targeted for assassination when a bullet pierced the roof into his home.

    In Kano, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who uprooted all obstacles to install Abdullahi Ganduje as his successor, is in a dilemma now. He has left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and plotting how to ensure Ganduje’s second term bid fails.

    These gods can also learn from Sokoto State, where Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Aliyu Wamakko, are now sworn enemies. Wammako, who fought off all opposition to make him governor, is a serving APC senator. Both men have divided the state. The House of Assembly is divided. The political atmosphere is tensed.  After Tambuwal’s failed presidential bid, he is back in the governorship race.

    These gods of our time can also learn from ex-Governor Peter Obi, who I believe till this day, regrets the day he supported Willie Obiano to be governor of Anambra State. Within months of Obiano taking over power, they were at each other’s jugular. Obi did not like the way Obiano was spending the money he was just happy saving when there were things which needed money spent on!

    Another example these gods need to ponder over is Chimaroke Nnamani, who may for the rest of his life feel bad about supporting Sullivan Chime to succeed him as Enugu State governor. Chime’s support for Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi obviously went awry too, if not he will not be in the APC now.

    My final take: These gods in Imo, Ogun and Zamfara are in power but do not understand power because even if they have their ways now there is no guarantee that the puppets they think they are trying to install will not turn against them.

    …Parts of this piece once appeared on this space.

     

  • NMA decries increase in mortality rate in Zamfara

    The Nigerian Medical Association (MMA) in Zamfara on Thursday lamented the increasing mortality rate in the state.

    The Vice Chairman of the Association, Dr Manir Bature, made the observation while presenting a paper at a town hall meeting with governorship candidates of five political parties in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the town hall meeting was organised by the Advocacy Nigeria, in collaboration with Mac Arthur Foundation, WRAPA.

    The theme of the meeting is “Our Government, Our Health”.

    Bature said the state had Women of Child Bearing Age (WCBA) population of 1,014,136 and records 11,000 Child Maternal Deaths annually.

    He said 30 pregnant women were dying daily according to survey conducted by Maternal and Newborn Child Health (MNCH2), in 2017.

    He said the state was facing gross inadequate manpower and equipment and inadequate funding by the government to health sector.

    He lamented that Zamfara, with a population of 4.7 million according to 2017 projection spread across the 14 local government areas, had only 345 medical doctors.

    “Out of the number, 270 were concentrated in Gusau the state capital leaving the remaining 13 local government areas with just 75 doctors.

    “If not for donor agencies intervention, health care would have collapsed in Zamfara,” he said.

    Bature  appealed to government at all levels to wake up to their responsibilities and address the situation.

    The Project Officer, Advocacy Nigeria, Mrs Larai Jibrin, criticised  the government for not paying deserving attention to the health sector.

    She  said this made the country to fall below the World Health Organization (WHO) standard.

    Ahmed said Nigeria was rated 187 out of 191 countries in terms of health care delivery with the third highest numbers of maternal mortality in the world.

    “Sadly as of 2014, Zamfara state was worse with 1025 deaths for every 100,000 live birth.” she said.

    She decried that Nigeria had never met African Union set benchmark for health of 15 per cent of a country budget.

    She said the federal government, in the 2018 budget, allocated N340 billion, representing 3.9 per cent of the N8.6 trillion budget.

    Earlier, the State Coordinator, Advocacy Nigeria, Malam Rabiu Sambo, said the townhall meeting was intended to create awareness on health situation in the state as the nation moved closer to the next general election that would usher in new leaders.

    Sambo also said the state government had not been giving the expected attention to the health care sector. (NAN)

  • Zamfara donates 850 motorcycles to civilian JTF

    Zamfara State Government has distributed 850 motorcycles to the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) to support logistics during operation.

    Speaking during the distribution in Gusau yesterday, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Alhaji Bello Dankande said the government considered it very necessary to provide the motorcycles to the Civilian JTF.

    He said a total of 50 motorcycles were allocated to each emirate council under the custody of Emirs, who were to take charge of their maintenance and monitoring.

    Dankande also said that N500,000 had been approved for the maintenance of the bikes at each emirate.

    He assured of government’s continued commitment in the fight against banditary in the state until peace was restored.

    Emir of Anka and Chairman Zamfara Emirate Council Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed commended both the government for their commitment in tackling the security problem in the state.

    He expressed satisfaction with the number of security personnel deployed to the state and called for the stationing of the personnel to vulnerable areas.

    “Despite the large number of the security men in the state, banditry activities still remain. I appeal to government at all levels to put more effort in addressing the security challenge in the state,’’ he said.

  • Sokoto agog as Atiku flags off Northwest campaign

    The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) on Monday flagged off the Northwest Zonal campaign of its Presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Kangiwa square, venue of the flag off has been a beehive of activities since the early hours of Monday.

    Read Also:2019 poll: Atiku meets Wike ahead of campaign kick off

    Already, the party’s chieftains , supporters and well-wishers from across the zone comprising of Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara have converged on the multipurpose venue.

    However, the Presidential candidate and his running mate, Peter Obi, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, governorship candidates, National chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, Senate President Bukola Saraki, serving and former PDP governors arrived the venue  at about 2pm.