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Tag: Adamawa

  • Several feared dead in Adamawa communal clash

    Several people are feared dead in a communal clash in Libbo ward of Shellenge Local Government Area of Adamawa.

    Confirming the incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, the Councillor representing the ward, Shuaibu Waleed said the clash started when the alleged body of a man from Gomba community of neigbouring Demsa Local Government Area was sighted and the people of Gomba claimed he was killed by a Fulani.

    “The bodies of two Fulani were later seen in what looked like a reprisal leading to further attacks.

    “I can’t actually say the number of people killed but I knew that we buried five dead bodies and I saw one other dead body burnt beyond recognition inside a mosque while about 200 houses were burnt,” Waheed said.

    He said normalcy had been restored and already soldiers and policeman had been drafted to the area.

    The Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Mr Haruna Furo, said six communities were affected by the crisis.

    “I don’t have details of the incident; all I know is that about six communities were affected.”

    Furo said already the agency had dispatched relief materials to the area.

    The spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, SP Othman Abubakar, said a unit of MOPOL had been deployed to the area.

    “I am yet to get details of casualty but normalcy has been restored to the area. A unit of MOPOL had been sent to the area to maintain peace,” Abubakar said.

     

  • Police officer shoots superior dead over feud with girlfriend in Adamawa

    There was pandemonium on Tuesday in Adamawa as a sergeant was shot dead by a corporal following a feud with girlfriend.

    The spokesperson of the police in the state, Othman Abubakar, confirmed the death of the officer “over a minor disagreement.”

    According to a report by Premium Times, the incident happened at a bar in Madagali Local Government Area of the state.

    A witness who refused to be named said the two officers had a spat over the girl said to be an alcohol seller and the girlfriend of the corporal.

    “They had a hot argument had on Tuesday over one alcohol seller who is girlfriend to Corporal Adamu. She had complained that late Sergeant Timothy did not pay a N100 bill for his drink.

    “He initially took a shot of a local gin and demanded for another shot. This situation provoked Corporal Adamu, who warned Sergeant Timothy to be careful with his utterance to his girlfriend or he would be dealt with mercilessly.

    “And true to his words, Corporal Adamu cocked his rifle and shot Timothy, killing him on the spot and causing pandemonium,” the witness said.

    Police spokesperson, Mr. Abubakar said that an officer “shot his colleague over a minor disagreement.”

    “Reports from the area indicated that it was on Tuesday morning at about 11 : 00 a.m, when Corporal Bala Adamu and his colleague late Sergeant Emmanuel Timothy attached to 13 Squadron Police Mobile Force, Makurdi on special duties in Madagali, engaged each other in a hot argument that resulted to the corporal killing the sergeant with his rifle.”

    He said the corporal had been arrested ,while the corpse of the slain officer had been deposited at the Yola Specialist Hospital Mortuary.

    “The case has since been referred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Cid, at the state headquarters and investigation has commenced,” Mr. Abubakar said.

     

  • Three feared dead, cows stolen as herdsmen attack Adamawa village

    Three people have been confirmed dead after gunmen struck in an early Sunday morning raid on Kikon Village of Numan Local Government Area in Adamawa State.

    The attackers suspected to be herdsmen rode into the village on motorbikes setting houses and food barns on fire. They also reportedly carted away cattle belonging to the farmers.

    An eyewitness told newsmen that the invaders stormed the village at about 2:00 a.m. while the villagers were still sleeping, leaving them scampering into the bush for safety.

    This attack is the latest, following raids by herdsmen on Mbang and Baga villages of Numan Local Government Area in the last two weeks.

    Herdsmen have also recently launched deadly attacks on farming communities in Benue state in the North Central, killing several people.

  • Boko Haram invades Adamawa town, kills five

    Five people were feared killed Friday by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in an early morning attack in Kaya village of Madagali in Adamawa, residents and local officials have said.

    Kaya is one kilometer drive from Gulak, the administrative headquarters of Madagali.

    The attack came two days after a similar incident in Pallam where Boko Haram militants killed three people.

    Residents say soldiers and local hunters who chased the insurgents were able to shoot two of them dead.

    A fleeing resident, Baba David, said, ‘’the rampaging Boko Haram attacked Kaya village, at about 10 p.m. and had a field day for almost three hours, no response.

    ‘’They killed five people before fleeing to their hideouts unperturbed. It’s so sad that no response from security personnel deployed to man our areas.

    ‘’Kaya is just one kilometer away from Gulak, where soldiers and other security stations. Though local vigilantes later came and pursued the insurgents,’’ he said.

    The chairman of Madagali, Yusuf Muhammad, also confirmed the incident but said he had no details yet.

    Mr. Muhammad said information reaching him was that people lost their lives, while security and local hunters were in pursuit of the terrorists.

    Confirming the attack, a member of the House of Representatives, Adamu Kamale, said: ‘’I got a distress call early morning that they (Boko Haram) struck again in Kaya village, killing at least five people and others injured.

    ‘’The recent attacks indicate the group is still able to carry out major attacks and has not been defeated despite the successes achieved by Nigerian soldiers in the war.

    ‘‘You know our communities are a stone’s throw from the boundary of Sambisa Forest, the insurgents’ safe haven from where they launch attacks on us,’’ he noted.

    Mr. Kamale, who spoke on telephone on Friday, said while the military continued to make claims of ‘decimating’ the insurgents, the situation in Madagali had been “seriously underreported” in a series of security reports filed by the military to Mr. Buhari.

    “The truth remains that the group is still very active in our areas,” the lawmaker said.

    ‘’We are calling on Mr. President not only to match words with actions but should endeavour to come and see our plight, because the insurgents are truly killing more people than he is even aware of, particularly in Michika/Madagali local government areas of Adamawa State.”

    Madagali is one of the frequently attacked major towns in the northeastern state of Adamawa by Boko Haram insurgents.

  • Boko Haram strikes again in Adamawa, many feared dead, several injured

    There was pandemonium in Adamawa on Tuesday as many people were feared dead and kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents in a fresh attack.

    The insurgents Boko Haram wreaked the havoc at Pallam community in Madagali Local Government Area of the state.

    The attack came barely a week after the terrorists launched a similar attack on neighbouring Wanu, Kamale and Kafin Hausa communities of Michika and Madagali areas.

    Pallam is the hometown of the Deputy Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Tsamdu.

    Fleeing residents said the onslaught lasted for about five hours.

    “They sneaked into our town Pallam, midnight at about 11 p.m., and started shooting sporadically, killing and burning houses. They (Boko Haram) abducted some of our people mostly men.

    “I escaped by the whiskers and fled into a nearby hiding place before escaping; no soldier came to our rescue. For now I can’t tell the exact figures of the casualty. It was terrible!’’ a fleeing resident, Abamu Japhet, said.

    Confirming the night attack, a member representing Madagali, Michika at the House of Representatives, Adamu Kamale, said the terrorists, ”killed even livestock, looted and burnt many houses.”

    “I had a distress call that they have again launched night attack at Pallam. As I am talking to you now, the casualty figures is yet to be ascertained but they killed and abducted people and also burnt houses. Even before this attack, the terrorists had earlier ransacked Wanu, Kamale and Kafin Hausa communities. Infact, hardly a day will pass without attack, let the government wake up.

    “We want President Buhari to visit us and see the horrible scenario being meted on our communities,’’ he said.

    When contacted, police spokesman in the state, Othman Abubakar, said he is yet to be briefed on the development.

    “I am yet to get details of the attack but I will get back to you later,” he said.

    Boko Haram appears to have intensified its onslaught in recent weeks in its eight-year bloody insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives in the North-east.

  • Police arrest officer for ‘killing seven farmers in Adamawa’

    The Adamawa Police Command on Thursday confirmed the arrest of a policeman who was alleged to have shot to death seven farmers in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the arrest followed a petition by a Civil Society Organization, Progressive Mind for Development Initiate.

    The petition signed by the president of the CSO, Abubakar Abdulsalam, alleged that the officer, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, committed the offence on Nov. 23, 2017.

    It indicated that the police officer, while in charge of Safer Highways Patrol Team, arrested the farmers who were working on their farms at the outskirts of Gombi town, tied and shot them to death.

    The petition further alleged that the same officer had on April 30, 2016, while in charge of a police outpost in Kem village, Shelleng Local Government area of the state, killed four people suspected of committing robbery.

    “We as a concerned organization consider the act of the suspect (policeman) as an act against the provision of the Constitution and infringement on the fundamental rights of the people in question.

    “If such act is not checked it will continue to spread like wild fire and eventually Nigeria will be unsafe for its citizens,” it added.

    The spokesman of Adamawa Police Command, Othman Abubakar, said the policeman had been arrested and detained as investigation continues into the case.

    NAN

  • Pay your tax, Gov Bindow pleads with Adamawa people

    Pay your tax, Gov Bindow pleads with Adamawa people

    Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has pleaded with the people of the state to show patriotism by paying their tax and supporting the government’s effort to boost its internally generated revenue.

    Bindow made the appeal on Tuesday in Yola during a live programme in a local television station, Gotel TV.

    He said his administration was committed to transforming the state and all monies generated would be utilised in providing the residents with dividends of democracy.

    “Please endeavour to pay your tax; I want to assure you that your tax will be utilised for your own good,” he said.

    The governor said that his administration was able to raise the state’s internally generated revenue from about N200 million monthly to between N600 to N700 million.

    “I have directed the Board of Internal Revenue to make sure it boosts the revenue to N1 billion by June; so try to understand if we increase tax,” Bindow said.

    On health, he said that his administration recruited 10 doctors last year and that he had directed that 20 more to be recruited this year.

    Bindow also said that the recurring Boko Haram attacks in Madagali Local Government Area of the state had become worrisome.

    The governor expressed concern that some of the youths of the area had embraced the terrorists’ ideology.

    He said his administration was committed to peace, and that he had set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the recent clash between farmers and nomads in Numan and Demsa.

    “I swear, anyone found to be involved will be brought to book. This administration will act on the panel’s report; it will not be swept under the carpet,” he said.

    The governor expressed satisfaction with the performance of his administration, saying that it would boosts his campaign if he decided to seek re-election in 2019.

    He said the APC in Adamawa was now united and that discussion had commenced with some key People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members who would defect to APC.

    “I don’t want to reveal names but for sure some big PDP members in Adamawa will join us in the APC,” Bindow said.

     

  • We lost over 5,247 Muslims to Boko Haram’s rampage in Adamawa – Muslim Council

    The Adamawa State chapter of Muslim Council has said at least 5,247 Muslims have been killed in the Boko Haram violence in seven local government areas of the state in the past five years (2013 to 2017).

    The council, which comprises all Islamic organisations in Adamawa, said it compiled the report from its various local chapters.

    The affected local governments are Madagali, Michika, Maiha, Mubi North, Mubi South, Hong and Gombi.

    A report on the crisis signed by the Adamawa branch chairman of the council, Abubakar Magaji, and Secretary General, Ismaila Umaru, indicates that another 5,161 Muslims sustained various degrees of injuries.

    The report indicated that 12,732 properties belonging to Muslims in the councils, including houses, mosques, livestock and farm produce – worth N81.6 billion – were destroyed.

    The report stated that Madagali Local Government Area has the highest number of dead victims with 2,500 people while Hong has the least with 68.

    Muslims in Michika Local Government Area suffered the highest amount of losses with property worth N23.3 billion destroyed in the council while Maiha has the least with N157 million worth of properties.

    The report which was presented to the Governor of Adamawa, Muhammadu Bindow, recommended among others support for the victims by the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative and reconstruction of places of worship and Islamic schools destroyed.

    It also recommended an increase in security personnel and financial support to local vigilante groups assisting the military in the fight against the insurgency.

  • U.S. ICT university to boost ICT in Adamawa

    Prof. Victor Mbarika, the President, Board of Trustees, ICT University American Foundation has expressed determination of the university to boost ICT in Adamawa.

    Mbarika made the pledge on Tuesday when he paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Mohammed Bindow of Adamawa in Yola.

    He said that the ICT network would include e-book library for the state university, e-learning centres in tertiary institutions, e-taxation and e-payment, among others.

    The president said that e-learning centres would provide opportunities for students to access their courses online.

    He said that the e-library would attract American publishers to download their works by at least providing 1,000 books online.

    Mbarika said that the areas of interest by the ICT University would cover the Adamawa State University, Mubi, Office of the Auditor-General for Local Governments.

    He said that Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Adamawa State Board of Internal Revenue and Bureau for Public Procurement were among areas of interest.

    He said that the partnership would equally create a window for an exchange programme between the students of the university and Adamawa.

    He commended Bindow for his giant stride in the development of road infrastructure.

    “Your roads are among the cleanest I have ever seen,’’ he said.

    Responding, Bindow said that the giant stride development would not only stop on road infrastructure but in other areas of development.

    He said that the administration had declared state of emergency in education and health.

    He said that the administration had rehabilitated 263 schools destroyed by insurgency.

    The governor said that the administration had commenced the repositioning of the state university to compete with world class universities.

    Bindow said that the administration had also sought the enactments for the establishment of State and Local Independent Audit Office which would operate independently devoid of any interference.

    According to him, all these are the demonstration of our commitment to prudence and accountability in governance.

    He commended the ICT University, U.S., for choosing Adamawa for its pilot programme.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the ICT University American Foundation, was founded in 1880 by the American government.

    The university’s cardinal objective is to be a premier destination for research, innovation and training of scholars in relevant contents for developing economies.

     

  • Police protest non-payment of three months salaries

    Several policemen and women besieged the premises of the Nigeria Police Force Micro Finance Bank yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State, demanding the immediate payment of their three month salaries.

    The police officers, some of who came with their families, had stormed the bank in the early hours of the day. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Othman Abubakar, declined comment on the issue. Abubakar said he was not competent to speak on the matter.

    The Branch Manager, NPF Micro Finance Bank, Haruna Yusuf, said the police authorities had not remitted the funds meant for the payment of the salaries of the affected policemen to the bank. According to him, police command in the state informed him that the fund is with the Budget Office, Force Headquarters, Abuja, awaiting approval.

    He said: “I am just from the state police headquarters, Yola. I was informed that the fund meant for payment of the affected policemen is still with the Budget Office of Police Headquarters in Abuja. “As soon as the fund is made available to the bank, they would start getting their alert.

    “That is the only information I know about the matter; you can go and verify.” The policemen stormed the bank in their mufti to avoid identification, but wore gloomy faces as they staged the peaceful demonstration.

    The aggrieved policemen in various ranks, who would not want to be mentioned however, appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in the matter, saying their families were dying of hunger.