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Tag: Zamfara

  • Civil society group decries IGP’s handling of Benue killings

    Civil society group decries IGP’s handling of Benue killings

    A civil society organisation, the Sanctity Transparency Peace Initiative (STPI) has called on the Inspector General of Police Mr. Ibrahim Idris to come clean on the alleged complicity of the police and its negligence which has worsened the herdsmen’s killings across the country.

    In a communique issued on Tuesday after its emergency meeting in Abuja, the group bemoaned the deteriorating security situation in the country, particularly in Benue State.

    The communique, signed by its National Coordinator, Sunday Alakho, the group condemned what it called the less than salutary role of the police chief since the killings by suspected herdsmen started on New Year’s day.

    The group said the IGP’s initial description of the mass murder of innocent villagers by herdsmen as a “mere communal clash” is callous and insensitive against people crying out for Justice.

    It further accused the IGP of flouting the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to relocate to Benue State and also rated the intervention of the police as a monumental failure, as according to the group, the killings have continued unabated.

    The group also expressed concerns over remarks credited to the IGP that the implementation of the Open Grazing Prohibition Law in Benue was responsible for the killings.

    It wondered if the same law was responsible for the herdsmen’s similar killings in Plataeu, Zamfara, Edo, Ogun, Kaduna and Oyo States where such laws do not exist.

    The STPI maintained that the complicity of the police was confirmed by the reference to Benue’s Governor Samuel Ortom as a “drowning man” by Force spokesman, Mr. Jimoh Moshood.

    It demanded for a full public explanation from the police authorities on what it meant by branding an elected governor “a drowning man”.

    The group urged the Nigerian people not to take the characterisation lightly, as it could be interpreted to mean the safety of the Governor is endangered. It demanded a public pronouncement by the police guaranteeing the safety of Governor Ortom.

    The STPI joined other Nigerians in calling for the immediate arrest of leaders of the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore which it accused of masterminding the killings, following an earlier threat issued by the herdsmen.

    It charged the IGP to impartially execute his presidential mandate by ensuring the safe return of villagers who have been moving to Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps and to ensure the safety of their communities failing which he should resign.

    The STPI warned the police authorities to refrain from dragging the noble force into the murky waters of politics in order to disabuse the minds of citizens who suspect that the role of the police in this crisis is a manifestation of a hidden agenda against particular ethnic groups.

    It also recalled with dismay an earlier statement credited to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Dan Ali, citing the Anti Open Grazing law law passed by the state as being responsible for the killings.

  • ANA condemns killings in Taraba, Zamfara, others

    The writer’s group, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), has  condemned the killings in Benue, Taraba, Zamfara, Kaduna states, the Northcentral and the Southsouth geopolitical zones.

    Describing the nefarious acts as “callous” and crimes against the state, ANA said the  victims were mainly women and children, the elderly and the weak.

    The group called on the government to investigate these killings, and ensure that the perpetrators faced the law, saying this would not only serve as a deterrent to others.

    “ANA enjoins the security agencies to be up to date with the task and responsibilities associated with the protection of lives and properties in an increasingly challenging human environment.The association condemns and cautions against any unnecessary politicisation and ethnicisation of the country and enjoins political players at all levels to approach their activities (in view of the build-up to the 2019 elections) with utmost respect to the interest of the country and especially the sanctity of human life above all else,” it stated.

    The group made the call during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Grange Hill Hotel in Mpape, Federal Capital Territory.

    In the wake of brutal killings across the country, the group urged writers to use their writings to promote peace, harmony and mutual coexistence.

    Writers were urged to “continue to employ the instrumentality of their writings and creative endowments to promote peace, harmony and mutual coexistence in the country in line with our founding philosophy of supporting Nigeria’s emergence as an egalitarian society, safe for all and vibrantly accommodating of others opinions and noble pursuits”.

    At the NEC meetings, the group’s leadership restated its commitment to “purposeful administration”, pursuit and protection of the interest of all creative writers in the country in a continuing effort towards upholding the objectives, vision and mission of the association as outlined in its Constitution”.

    The Denja Abdullahi-led executive also reiterated its commitment to the development of the ANA Land at Mpape into a modern Writers Village and creative hub, which it said was witnessing progress in the form of the building; and completion of a mini-national secretariat and construction on various outlined facilities earmarked for the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village shall be sustained.

    The meeting also focused on the 37th International Annual Convention of the association, which has been scheduled for October 25 to 28. It would have as  theme: Literature: Megacities and mega-narratives.

    After exhaustive deliberations, it came up with a communique  signed by ANA president, Mallam Abdullahi, and ANA General Secretary, Dr. Ofonime Inyang, which also states, among other issues, that creative writing and literary production should begin to receive more attention from both the public and private sectors of the economy. In it, the group notes that the present exclusion of the literary sector from the government’s discourse and support projections for the creative industry, while calling for urgent redress on this to enable a wholesome development of the creative industry.

  • Buhari for Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Benue

    Buhari for Nasarawa, Taraba, Zamfara, Benue

    President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to visit Nasarawa State today as part of efforts to ensure peace in some trouble spots.

    After Nasarawa, Buhari is slated to visit Taraba, Zamfara and Benue states but the dates of the visits are yet to be decided, a Presidency source said last night.

    The President is expected to console victims of herdsmens’ killings and douse tensions in the trouble spots.

  • RIFAN begins bio metric data capturing of rice farmers in Zamfara

    RIFAN begins bio metric data capturing of rice farmers in Zamfara

    Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in collaboration with the Project Monitoring Team of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower’s Programme (ABP) has begun biometric data capturing of rice farmers.

    The Zamfara RIFAN Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Ajiya-Anka, disclosed this in an interview in Gusau on Friday.

    He said, the data capturing was for the 2018 dry and wet seasons farming.

    Ajiya-Anka who is a member of the monitoring team, noted that the team was responsible for implementing the CBN/Anchor Borrower’s Programme in the state.

    He said the team had representatives from RIFAN and the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

    “We have already started biometric data capturing of farmers as well as farmland mapping in Bungudu and Shinkafi LGAs of the state,’’ the official said.

    He said, the two LGAs were among the nine of the 14 LGAs of the state selected for the 2018 CBN Anchor Borrower’s Programme dry season farming in the state.

    Ajiya-Anka listed the remaining seven LGAs to include Anka, Bakura, Bungudu, Gusau, Maradun and Talata-Mafara.

    Read Also: RIFAN  begins registration of 2,000 rice farmers in Daura LGA

    He told our reporter, over 4,000 rice farmers had so far been registered in the two LGAs alone.

    “We are targeting over 60,000 farmers across the state.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 launched this programme in Kebbi State, but in Zamfara we had not participated in the programme due to some problems but now, we will participate fully.

    “We have been sensitising farmers to this programme; so all the farmers we are registering are aware of this programme and willing to participate and cooperate,’’ he said.

    Ajiya-Anka noted that farmers would be given inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, pumping machines and insecticides as well as cash, under the scheme.

    “Each farmer will be given a loan based on his production capacities.

    “We have already made arrangements with anchors who will buy the rice and process it when farmers harvest their produce,’’ he said.

    He hailed the Federal Government for introducing Anchor Borrower’s Programme through CBN, saying that it had improved rice production in the country.

    NAN

     

  • Vaccination : Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever

    Vaccination : Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever

    Zamfara Government will vaccinate 3.2 million people during the ongoing yellow fever vaccination campaign, the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Lawal Liman, has said.

    Liman said in an interview with reporters in Gusau on Monday that the vaccination would be conducted in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.

    “We have already concluded the first phase of the exercise which covers four local government areas of Anka, Gusau, Maru and Maradun and we have recorded great success.

    “We are now on the second phase which would cover ten local government areas of Bungudu, Birnin-Magaji, Bakura, Bukkuyum, Gummi, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi Talata-Mafara, Tsafe and Zurmi.

    “We started the second phase of this exercise last four days, we have reached about 40 percent coverage now and it would end in the next six days”, he said.

    According to him, the vaccine is for the people from 9 months to 45 years of age.

    READ ALSO: Eight killed in herdsmen-farmers clash in Jos

    The commissioner therefore urged residents to cooperate with the government for the success of the exercise.

    He said that, “the reports we are receiving from our officials on the fields is indicating that the exercise is moving smoothly, our people are participating across the state, we have been enlightening them through jingles, programmes on radio and television.

    “We are still calling on stakeholders to continue enlightening members of the public on the importance of the vaccine so as to achieve the desired objective,” Liman added.

    He assured that measures had been put in by all stakeholders including development partners “to reach out to the targeted number of people or beyond at the end of the exercise.”

    NAN

  • FRSC to reduce road crashes, fatality in Zamfara

    FRSC to reduce road crashes, fatality in Zamfara

    The Zamfara Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) said on Friday in Gusau that it was determined to reduce road crashes and road fatality this year.

    The Sector Commander, Mr Jones Malomo, told our reporter in an interview that the command would reduce crashes by 15 per cent and fatality by 30 per cent.

    Malomo said that part of the command’s 2018 strategic goal was to reduce road crashes, enhance professionalism and enforce rescue services.

    “Road safety is a professional job; so there is need for regular in-house training, seminars, and retreats as well as practical aspect of road traffic management,’’ he said.

    The sector commander also urged road users to get the new driver’s licences, adding that it was very important and useful in Nigeria and other countries.

    “The patronage of new driver’s licence is low and there are some drivers’ licences at the Board of Internal Revenue waiting to be collected by their owners.

    “The new driver’s licence entails going to driving school and undergoing a driving test at the VIO’s office and the licence is valid for between three and five years.

    He said that the validity period depended on the amount paid during registration, emphasising that a driver’s licence was an important document to any driver.

    NAN

  • Fuel queues must end in seven days, Senate insists

    Fuel queues must end in seven days, Senate insists

    The Senate yesterday insisted that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ), must within seven days, end long queues in fuel stations across the country.

    The resolution followed the unanimous adoption of an interim report of the joint committee on Petroleum Resources, on the lingering fuel crisis in the country.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, told the Senate in plenary that the joint committee recommended that NNPC be issued a seven day ultimatum to ensure the disappearance of queues from fuel stations across the country.

    The Zamfara Central lawmaker underscored the need for security agencies to ensure effective boarder patrol to check diversion of petroleum products to neighbouring African countries.

    He noted that the report also recommended that the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) should double its efforts to enforce compliance with the government regulated pump price.

    Marafa said, “During the recess, the committee moved around some cities including Abuja and Lagos to ascertain the situation on ground. When we think that we are making progress, we just realised that the queues were resurfacing at the stations.

    “We also engaged with the NNPC and other stakeholders and we were informed that there were challenges of supply coupled with massive smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries for higher prices. Also there is the problem of marketers selling above approved pump price.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, urged management of NNPC to ensure compliance with the resolution and ensure the disappearance of long queues within the next seven days.

  • Zamfara builds 645 boreholes

    Zamfara builds 645 boreholes

    The Zamfara Government has constructed 645 boreholes in rural communities across the state under the Sanitation, Hygiene and Water in Nigeria (SHWAN ll) intervention project.

    Commissioner of Health Alhaji Lawal Liman, said this yesterday in Gusau, the state capital while handing over to his successor at the Ministry of Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Idris Keta.

    Liman said the projects were executed in collaboration with DFID and UNICEF from 2014 to date.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Zamfara is one of the six states in the country participating in the SWHAN II.

    According to Liman, the intervention project between the state and the partners started in 2014 with three selected Local Government Areas of Birnin-Magaji, Talata-Mafara and Tsafe.

    He added that from 2014 to 2016, the state recorded great achievements in areas of sanitation and hygiene which led to the declaration of over 500 communities open defection free.

    The commissioner said three additional local government areas in the state were added following government‘s release of counterpart fund and implementation of the project policy guidelines.

    He listed the local governments as, Bakura, Maru and Shinkafi.

    According to him, the government also constructed semi urban water projects in 84 communities across the state during the period in partnership with local government councils.

    Liman added that the ministry for rural development had linked 134 communities with electricity.

  • Zamfara confirms ALGON Chairman as Commissioner

    Zamfara confirms ALGON Chairman as Commissioner

    The Zamfara State House of Assembly on Monday screened Chairman, the state chapter of All Local Government Association of Nigeria ( ALGON ), Alhaji Muhammad Bello-Dankande as commissioner.

    Dankande is the current chairman of Bakura local government council in the state.

    The screening followed a motion moved by the House leader, Alhaji Isah Abdulmumin ( APC, Talata-Mafara North ), on Monday during the assembly’s plenary.

    He requested the House to screen, Dankande for appointment as a member of the state executive council.

    Read also: DPR to sanction four filling stations in Zamfara

    Abdulmumin said that the nominee is well know by the people of the state apart from his current position as chairman of Bakura local government council, he is also the current ALGON chairman in the state.

    The House leader, therefore, urged the members to agree with the motion and screen the nominee whose name was forwarded to the assembly by the state governor on Sunday, Jan. 7.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji who read the request letter of the governor at the plenary, said even though the assembly was on recess but because of the importance of the message from the governor, “we have to suspend it to attend to this message”.

    Rikiji said the House had agreed to screen the nominee considering his years of experience and the services he rendered to the state in various capacities.

    After deliberations, the speaker, announced the confirmation of the nominee.

    Reports say that the nominee was elected as Bakura local government council chairman three times and appointed as caretaker of the council two times between 2000 and 2018

    NAN

  • Police kills suspected armed bandit in Zamfara

    Police kills suspected armed bandit in Zamfara

    A police patrol team in Zamfara has killed a suspected armed bandit during an exchange of gun fire with the suspected group of bandits in Bukkuyum local government area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Muhammad Shehu and issued to newsmen in Gusau on Thursday.

    Shehu said the team was on patrol between kuyambana and Katamfawa villages in Bukkuyum local government area on Tuesday when a group of armed bandits was discovered.

    He said an exchange of gun shots ensued  between the police and bandits and one of the bandits was shot dead while other members of the group escaped in the bush to avoid to avoid arrest by the Police.

    “A locally made gun and one handset were recovered from the fleeing bandits.

    “A lead is currently being followed by the police to track down the remaining members of the gang as some have sustained gunshot wounds”, Shehu said.

    He said the command would continue to rely on credible information from members of the public against all forms of criminals in order to stop criminal activities in the state.

    He urged people of the state to remain calm, law abiding and continue to cooperate with them and other security agencies in an effort to ensure peace and stability in the state.