Tag: Adamawa

  • Sacked Adamawa workers solicit First Lady, Atiku’s intervention

    Sacked Adamawa workers solicit First Lady, Atiku’s intervention

    A group of sacked workers in Adamawa on Monday begged the First Lafy, Hajiya Aisha Buhati, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to intervene and address their plight.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workers who were sacked by the administration of Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, made the appeal in Yola during a peaceful protest.

    They staged a protest over their sack and non-payment of 10 months’ salary.

    The workers who threatened to drag the government to the Industrial Court, also urged other prominent Adamawa indigents to intervene in their plight.

    Speaking to newsmen during the protest along Jimeta-Yola road, spokesman of the affected workers, Malam Faisal Baba, said they numbered over 10,000.

    Baba said the sacked workers were just victims of politics contrary to the government claimed that they were illegally employed.

    “We want to urge the First Lady, Atiku Abubakar and other prominent citizens of Adamawa to intervene in the interest of justice and fairness,” Baba begged.

    Reacting to the protest, the Adamawa Head of Service, Dr Edgar Amos, said that government had jettisoned employment made in some tertiary institutions due to some irregularities but those affected were not up to 10,000.

    “I can’t really give you the actual figure now, but it’s not up to 10,000,” Amos said.

    He, however, said that the state government would soon employ 2,000 teachers for post primary schools, and some category of staff in the state polytechnic.

    He therefore advised those that are interested to follow due process in applying.

    “Government is planning to employ 2,000 teachers for post primary schools and it will also employ healthcare workers comprising doctors, nurses and midwives.

    “Some categories of staff will also be employed in the state polytechnic; the polytechnic has been directed to do needed assessment for the positions to be advertised in line with due process,” Amos said.

  • Boko Haram/ISWAP’s murder of preacher won’t break our trust in God – Christian group

    Despite the gruesome murder of Adamawa-based preacher, Rev Lawan Andimi, by Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists, the Northern Christian Forum of Nigeria (NCFN) has vowed to hold on to its faith and support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    The Christian group made this known at a press conference on Thursday condemning the wicked act which it described as “unfortunate and barbaric”.

    In a statement signed by President, Rev. Elijah Bitrus, NCFN revealed that the plan was to weaken their faith to discourage the evangelism and rapid spread of the gospel across the length and breadth of the country.

    Instead, however, this episode has enhanced their belief and uncompromising support for the president, according to Rev. Bitrus.

    The group hailed President Buhari’s effort in the fight against terrorism and corruption which sponsors and collaborators of the Boko Haram terrorists aren’t pleased with.

    NCFN, therefore, called on Nigerians to continue to cooperate and give full support to the government in the bid to rid of these elements that are hell bent on trying to instigate Nigerians against one another.

  • Fintiri awards scholarship to slain CAN chairman’s children

    Fintiri awards scholarship to slain CAN chairman’s children

    …as CAN declares three day mourning

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Adamawa State has declared a three-day fasting and prayer session from Monday over what it termed rampant killing of Christians in the state.

    The exercise was announced just as Governor Ahmadu Fintiri awarded scholarship for children of CAN chairman in Michika local government area, Rev. Lawani Andimi.

    Making the declaration for the three-day fasting and prayer, the Adamawa State CAN chairman, Bishop Stephen Mamza, said the Christian community needs to fast and pray “in view of the glaring failure” of the Federal Government to protect lives of Christians in Adamawa and the rest of Nigeria.

    Two prominent Christian leaders, as well as a journalist, were killed around Adamawa State within one week recently, the most recent being the beheading of Andimi on Tuesday.

    Boko Haram had beheaded Adimi after rejecting a N50 million ransom offer because it fell far lower than their demand.

    He was attacked on January 2 during an attack on the town.

    Earlier, a pastor and politician, Rev Denis Magauri, was killed by at his residence in Mayo Belwa while a broadcaster with Radio Nigeria’s Fombina FM, Mr Maxwell Nashion, had also been killed by persons the police are still investigating.

    Mamza, the CAN state chairman who is also the Catholic Bishop of Yola, urged all Christians in the 21 local government areas of Adamawa State to participate fully in the prayer and fasting session.

    Also making what is viewed as a significant move on Thursday, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri paid a condolence visit to the family of late Lawan Andimi in Michika and pledged support to the bereaved.

    The governor said the state government will sponsor the education of the children and provide other necessary palliative measures to the family.

    The governor was also at the headquarters of Andimi’s church, the Eklissiyar ‘Yan’uwa A Najeriya (EYN) in Kwarhi, Hong local government area, where he condemned the murder of the cleric, consoled all members of the EYN, and urged them to bear it with courage.

    The Governor said his administration is doing its best in ensuring the society is safe and has given security agencies in the state adequate support in that regard.

    Responding, The National President of EYN, Reverend Joel Billi thanked the Governor for identifying with the Church members during their moment of grief.

  • Adamawa: We accept Supreme Court verdict in good fate – APC

    Adamawa: We accept Supreme Court verdict in good fate – APC

    The Adamawa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has accepted Supreme Court verdict against it in good faith.

    The apex court had on Tuesday upheld the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), dismissing the case of the APC and its candidate in the last governorship election, Sen Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow who was the governor when the election was held.

    In a Press Statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Mohammed Abdullahi, the party empathised with former Governor Bindow, teaming stakeholders, elected representatives, and party loyalists over the decision of the Supreme Court, but urged for calm.

    The party said, ”Litigation is part of the electoral process aimed at deepening our democracy which is guaranteed by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “The Party which always encourages its members to remain law abiding, exploited the legal option and pursued same to its logical conclusion. The process has now come to an end with the verdict of the apex court which we have accepted in good faith with some reservations.

    “We wish to thank all members of our great party for sustaining the legal struggle up to the Supreme Court. It was indeed the support and encouragement of the party members that made it possible.

    “It is now time for us to take stock of our journey as a political party. We should restrategize and embrace very serious and deep reconciliation among our stakeholders and members to enable us come out stronger and more United before the next round of elections.

    “Our elected representatives and critical stakeholders should pay maximum attention to the party to sustain the huge number of followership that the party is proud of in the state.”

  • CAN confirms execution of Adamawa chairman by Boko Haram

    CAN confirms execution of Adamawa chairman by Boko Haram

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has confirmed execution of its Michika chairman in Adamawa State, Rev Lawan Andimi, by Boko Haram insurgents
    It was learnt that Andimi was executed on Monday along with a soldier.

    Special Adviser to CAN President, Bayo Oladeji, confirmed the cleric was beheaded.

    He however said: “We are working on our response”.

    The Adamawa state Chairman of CAN, Dami Mamza also confirmed the incident.

    The beheaded church leader served as the Local Council Chapter Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and also a pastor with the Church of the Brethren (EYN) at the District Church Council of Michika.

    Insurgents abducted him during an invasion of the town on January 2 around 7:00 pm.

  • Boko Haram attacks Michika town in Adamawa

    Boko Haram attacks Michika town in Adamawa

    Boko Haram insurgents have reportedly attacked a town, Michika in Adamawa state.

    The terrorists were said to have hit the town in the evening of Thursday, January 2, 2019.

    According to a Military source located in the community the attack reportedly started around 6pm.

    The source who spoke to newsmen under condition of anonymity said, the insurgents invaded the town in the evening.

    His words “Michika is under attack right now. Our men are on their way to repel.”

    Also confirming the development, a north-east resident told the said sister was trapped as a result of the attack.

    However, Nigeria Army has not yet confirmed the attack.

    Recall that an affiliate of the ISIS in Nigeria, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) released a video to announce that it had just murdered 11 Christians on Christmas day.

    The terrorists said their christian captives were killed in retaliation for the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in Syria in October.

  • Didon Ndonya’s Book Highlights Rich Cultural Heritage of Adamawa’s Kilba (Huba) People

    The rich cultural heritage of the Kilba (Huba) ethnic group in Adamawa State comes alive in a newly released publication; even as stakeholders point out the role culture can play in uniting a diverse society.

    The book, “Kilba (Huba): Cultural Ceremonies, Festivals, Dances, Games and Folktales”, written by seasoned educationist, community leader and administrator, Didon Nimrod Ndonya, delves deeply and exhaustively on the rich tapestry of cultural norms and traditional practices of the Kilba, one of Adamawa’s most prominent and successful ethnic groups.

    The general public has been cordially invited to the official launching of the book on Saturday, December 21, 2019, inside the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Board Hall in Jimeta, Yola, at 10.00am.

    The chairman of the book launch is Professor Johnson Pungri, Provost, College of Education, Hong, Adamawa state; while the chief launcher is Engr. Salihu Ahmed, chairman, Kilba Development Association, Abuja Branch.

    “The Kilba (Huba) are a vibrant, hospitable, hardworking and richly endowed people whose tradition, ceremonies and cultural practices are an invaluable contribution the rich sociocultural heritage of Adamawa State and Nigeria. It is a lively and colourful culture which I have lived through and enjoyed and what we set out to achieve in this book is to share this experience with the younger generations and the rest of the world”, said the author Mr. Didon Ndonya, while explaining the motivation for writing the book.

    The book portrays in readable, comprehensive details some Kilba traditional ceremonies like the Threshing of the Corn (Dig Uhi) and other agriculture-derived practices which gave the Kilba their reputation as successful farmers.

    There are also vignettes on initiation into manhood (Mba); wedding ceremonies (Hudza); inheritances (Bwa Tsir); and burial rites.

    The book also features traditional Kilba games such as Tullah Ngah Yaronduwa, Tullah Kakkale Kale, Tullah Inya Inyajo, Tullah Idu Leu, Tullah Simusu, among others.

    Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee for the book launch, Mr. Nachandiya Nathan, said the importance of the book goes beyond portraying the rich cultural practices and values of the Kilba.

    “We are very proud of our Kilba culture and this book documents various aspects of our expressive and normative culture. It is an important contribution to national dialogue because culture can be used to promote national unity in a multicultural society such as Nigeria”.

  • Gunmen kidnap Adamawa director, school principal, three others

    Gunmen kidnap Adamawa director, school principal, three others

    Gunmen have kidnapped a director of litigation in the Adamawa State Ministry of Justice, Samuel Yaumande, as well as a school principal and three others.

    The police spokesman, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, who confirmed the development to newsmen in Yola, on Tuesday, said the police were working round the clock to ensure the release of the captives and unravel the identities of the other victims.

    He explained that information available to the police indicated that the kidnappers “quietly made their way into Yaumande’s residence and abducted him, while his family members watched helplessly.”

    Nguroje said the police promptly responded to a distress call on the abduction, but the kidnappers had escaped with their victims when detectives arrived the scene.

    A family member of the kidnapped director, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, said Yaumande was abducted from his residence in Sengere, a suburb of Yola, around 11pm.

    According to him, the heavily armed men kidnapped the director, a school principal and three others on the same day.

    Only a fortnight ago, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Mubi North Police Divisional Headquarters, Muhammad Ahidjo, was abducted and later released after allegedly paying an undisclosed amount as ransom.

  • PDP sweeps Adamawa LG chairmanship election

    PDP sweeps Adamawa LG chairmanship election

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has won all the 21 local government council chairmanship position in the Saturday’s LG elections in Adamawa.

    Mr. Isa Shetima, chairman, Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), who declared the results on Sunday in Yola, said the result of councillors for the 226 wards had been announced at the local government levels.

    Shetima said the commission would give all the elected chairmen their certificates of return on Monday.

  • Kidnapped Adamawa DPO regains freedom

    Kidnapped Adamawa DPO regains freedom

    The Adamawa Police Command has confirmed the rescue of DSP Ahijo Muhammad, DPO of Mubi Division, who was kidnapped a fortnight ago by unidentified persons.

    DSP Sulaiman Nguroje, the Command’s Spokesman, confirmed the development on Saturday in Yola.

    Nguroje explained that Muhammad was rescued on Saturday evening by Police Operation Puff Ader/Operation Farauta in Mubi.

    “DSP Ahijo Muhammad, DPO Mubi North, was rescued from the hands of his abductors unharmed and healthy.

    ” The Command Anti Kidnap Unit is now investigating the matter with a view to arresting the fled kidnappers” Nguroje said.

    Muhammad was abducted about two weeks ago while travelling from Yola to Mubi.