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Tag: gombe

  • Gombe killings: NSCDC boss orders psychological test of personnel

    The Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana has directed the agency’s Forensic Psychology unit to work out a timetable for security profiling and psychological test of all personnel.

    The directive followed the Gombe State incident of Sunday where an NSCDC officer allegedly drove his car into a procession of Boys’ Brigade members, killed nine and wounded many others.

    In a statement by the Corps Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, in Abuja on Wednesday, the commandant-general explained that the action was aimed at checking future misbehaviour by NSCDC personnel.

    “Apart from testing to re-examine the psychological and physical stability of personnel, the Corps will embark on massive training and retraining programmes for all personnel, irrespective of cadre.

    “I regret the incident and ask that people be calm as I assure you that justice will prevail,” Gana said.

    He said the incident had no religious connotation and the personnel in question was not on official duty as the vehicle involved was his personal car.

    “This cannot be misconstrued to be a planned action. It is quite unfortunate,” he said.

    Gana cautioned the public against misinterpreting incidences such as occurred in Gombe to avoid mayhem and reprisal attacks.

    He urged NSCDC personnel to be cautious in dealing with the public, saying anyone found culpable would be held liable to whatever offence committed.

    The commandant-general said he had sent a delegation of senior officers from the headquarters in Abuja to commiserate with Gombe State Government, the church and families of the dead.

  • Gombe Killings: IG orders speedy, comprehensive investigation

    Gombe Killings: IG orders speedy, comprehensive investigation

    The acting Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Adamu has ordered for speedy and comprehensive investigation into the Easter day accident in Gombe state in which 11 people died.

    Eleven persons were reportedly killed including the driver of the vehicle, a personnel of the NSCDC, who rammed into a procession celebrating Easter on April 21, along Gombe-Biu road.

    A statement by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, a Deputy Commissioner of Police on Monday in Abuja, said 30 other persons seriously injured were currently receiving treatment.

    Mba said according to an eye witness, the driver lost control before ramming into the crowd.

    He said the Commissioner of Police in the state had visited the scene of the accident for an on-the-spot assessment as well as the hospital to monitor the treatment of the victims.

    The spokesman said while condoling the families and friends of the dead, the I-G advised motorists to exercise utmost caution by obeying all traffic signs and regulations.

  • Easter Tragedy! 10 die, 30 injured as Boys’ Brigade, NSCDC official clash in Gombe

    Ten persons reportedly died and 30 others injured in Gombe in an incident involving the Boys’ Brigade drawn from St Peter’s Anglican Church, Madaki; two parishes of ECWA Church in Bamusa and Barunde; and an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    The NSCDC official was identified through his ID card as ASC II Adamu Abubakar, and he was reportedly driving a Honda car with registration No. AS 385 GME.

    He was allegedly with an unidentified male companion. Both of them died in the incident, Police and eyewitnesses said.

    The incident reportedly happened during a night procession to Sabon-Layi Area of Gombe Metropolis, where the church members were expected to celebrate Easter Monday.

    The Gombe Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mary Malum, confirmed the development. According to him: “There are 10 death cases and 30 injured victims receiving treatment at the state specialist hospital and other private health institutions.

    “Eight out of the 10 dead persons were members of the Gombe State Boys’ Brigade, while the other two were the driver of the car and his friend.”

    However, while the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Gombe State, Dr. Godwin Omiko, described the incident as an accident, eyewitness said it was rather a direct confrontation between the Anglican and ECWA churches’ Boys’ Brigades and the NSCDC official.

    An eyewitness, Michael Adeniran, a member of ECWA Boys’ Brigade narrated: “The incident happened around 1.00am when a salon car belonging to the Civil Defence was prevented from passing through the road.

    “However, when our pastor prevailed on us, we allowed the driver to pass, but after dropping off his female passenger, he moved stealthily with his car from behind and cleared our members.”

    Another eyewitness at the scene of the incident, Michack Michael, confirmed that some ECWA Boys’ Brigade who survived the incident immediately fell on the salon car’s driver and killed him.

    Michack said, “Immediately we noticed the vehicle knocking people down, we immediately held the driver and his passenger and killed them.

    “We wanted to burn the car, but we were stopped.”

    Survivors at the male surgical ward confirmed the attack. One of them, identified simply as Godwin, noted that the NSCDC official returned after he had been allowed to pass and “leveled” members of his group.

    Another survivor, David, said, “This is not the first time we are embarking on such procession in the wee hours of the night, as we had done it in previous festive seasons.

    Another eyewitness, Zakaria Ibrahim, blamed the Civil Defence officer for taking the law into his hands, saying, “the man deliberately came to kill us.”

    The victims were said to have been rushed to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital as soon as the incident happened.

    Gombe State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Kennedy Ishaya, condemned the incident.

    “It is rather unfortunate that this type of attack was recorded. There are various degrees of injuries, as there are those with head injuries and lacerations,” Ishaya added.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State and the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, North East chapter, on Monday appealed to the Christian Community to remain calm.

    The State Deputy Governor, Mr. Charles Iliya, appealed for calm, adding that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure justice is done.

    Iliya noted that it was a painful experience, but appealed for calm to allow the relevant authorities carry out their duties.

    Rev. Abare Kala, the North East CAN chairman, said the association would follow due process to seek redress on the situation.

    Kala said that the Christian body was putting in efforts that would ensure that the situation is properly managed.

    “We call on the Christian Community in Gombe to take the situation in good faith, be calm and also follow the right channel in seeking redress on the issue on ground.

    “Two wrongs cannot make a right. So, I appeal for caution in the process of addressing the issue. If we apply the wrong approach, it will lead to another issue.

    “For now, we are trying to calm the situation by appealing to Christians to see reasons for calm and allow the authorities concerned to take necessary measures.

    “We have informed the security agencies concerned about the situation on ground.

    “We are aware of the pain this sad event had caused, but let’s be calm and allow the leadership to handle the matter,” he said.

    Michael Achika, the captain of the ECWA Church’s Boys’ Brigade from Bogo (Gombe State), appealed to the government to offset the bills that would be incurred by those undergoing treatment.

    Achika also urged the the government to compensate the families of the deceased.

    He commended the staff of the Gombe State Specialist Hospital for quickly attending to the injured when they were taken there.

    He said that the victims were responding to treatment.

  • 2019: Dogara urges Gombe electorate to vote based on experience

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara has called on voters in Gombe State to exercise their civic duties by voting based on experience and not sentiments in the 2019 general elections.

    Dogara made the call in Kaltungo , Kaltungo Local Government Area of the state during an empowerment programme by Hajiya Binta Bello, a House member representing Kaltungo/Shongom Federal Constituency.

    The speaker said that it was better to vote a leader that had been tested as against voting based on sentiment, including tribe or religion.

    “ You must be careful when electing people into offices in 2019. Vote for those who have been tested and not people that know nothing about governance.

    “Do not make such mistake. Think about the person that has done it before and can do it again, if given the opportunity.

    “ We must shun religious sentiment and tribal affiliation when voting people into power,” he said.

    Dogara also urged the people of the constituency to vote Bello again, adding that a vote for her would guarantee more dividends of democracy to the people.

  • Five dead as fresh cholera outbreak hits Gombe

    Gombe State Government on Thursday said a fresh outbreak of cholera had killed five people, while 16 others were hospitalised at the Primary Health Centre, Kembu in Balanga Local Government Area of the state.

    The state Acting Epidemiologist, Dr Nuhu Bile, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe.

    Bile said that the cholera outbreak occurred in October.

    He said that the State Rapid Response team alongside World Health Organisation had visited the scene immediately it received news of the incident.

    According to him, 70 patients were treated and discharged, while the five people died before medical help could reach them.

    He added that 16 others were being treated at the health centre for the disease.

    Bile said the recent deaths had brought the number of cholera mortality to 13, while no fewer than 500 patients had been treated and discharged in the last five months.

    The epidemiologist attributed the cause of the outbreak to the damaged five hand pumps in the community which forced people to seek unsafe alternative source of water.

    He named some of the recently affected local governments to include Yamaltu-Deba, Funakaye Gombe with the most recent being Balanga.

     

  • Police recover $4,000 from 19-year-old boy

    Police recover $4,000 from 19-year-old boy

    The police in Gombe state have recovered the sum of $4,000 (about N1.3million) from a 19 year old boy following his arrest in Pindiga town of Akko Local Government Area of the state.

    The arrest of the suspect, Idris Abubakar, was confirmed in a press statement issued in Gombe on Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Mary Malum.

    According to the statement, other things recovered from the teenager are N21, 000 cash, three bundles of wrappers and two pairs of canvas shoes.

    Others were a pair of rubber palm shoes, one MP3 player, one Infinix Note mobile phone and 17 pieces of chocolate.

    The command said that certain individuals who noticed the unusual spending pattern of the suspect alerted the Pindiga Divisional Police Headquarters on 19th of August.

    During interrogations, the suspect was said to have confessed to stealing the foreign currency notes from his unnamed Lebanese boss in Kano, who employed him as a domestic staff.

    The Command stated that the suspect had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Kano Command, scene of the crime, for further prosecution.

    Also, one Babangida Mohammed, 38, was allegedly arrested for siphoning fuel from a fuel reservoir within the vicinity of an electricity transformer at Pindiga Township.

    NAN

  • NAFDAC urges Gombe State Govt. to establish drug abuse control committee

    The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appealed to Gombe State Government to establish drug abuse control committee comprising of NAFDAC and other relevant agencies to fight substandard drugs.

    The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    Adeyeye said that such committee should also provide office accommodation and vehicles for NAFDAC use at each of the three senatorial districts like Kumo and Billiri for effective coverage.

    She assured Nigerians that NAFDAC would continue to support to ensure that Gombe people consumed only good quality and safe drugs and other consumables.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAFDAC had, on Thursday, destroyed N464.7 million worth of counterfeit, fake, expired and unwholesome products from six states of North-East in Gombe.

    The products destroyed at the Bajoga road Dump Site in Gombe, included antibiotics, anti hypertensive, antiretroviral, cancer drugs, anti malaria, herbal remedies and controlled drugs such as codeine containing cough syrup, Tramadol.

    Others include tomato paste, non alcoholic beverages, maize flour and insecticides.

    The director-general said that the products destroyed were seized by gallant and committed NAFDAC officers during surveillance and enforcement activities at companies that engaged in sharp practice.

    She said other products were voluntarily handed over to the NAFDAC by compliant companies, sister agencies and associations.

    Adeyeye assured Nigerians that NAFDAC would continue to do everything possible to ensure that only safe and right quality medicines, wholesome foods and other regulated products were distributed and consumed in the country.

  • Police arrest 116 suspects for various crimes in Gombe

    Gombe Police Command says it has arrested 116 suspects for various crimes so far in 2018.

    Mr Shina Olukolu, Gombe Commissioner of Police, said this in Gombe on Saturday.

    “Between January and July 2018, the command has arrested 116 suspects for various crimes in the state. All the suspects have been charged to court with 99 suspects convicted while 17 are awaiting trials,” he said.

    The Commissioner of Police said several weapons were also recovered from the suspects.

    “We recovered one gun, two locally made pistols, 250 cutlasses, 255 knives, 48 bow and arrows, 20 axes, 33 swords and three cartridges.

    “Other items recovered include one fabricated master key, four motorcycles, two fake receipt booklets, six handsets, one Lenovo laptop, two handset chargers and one power bank,” he said.

    Olukolu said the proactive measures of Gombe police command against crimes in all parts of the state was yielding the expected positive results.

    According to him, the command has initiated strategies aimed at nipping crimes in the bud through a monitoring network system that feeds the command with the needed information to arrest criminals anywhere in the state.

    “With our strong monitoring network system, we have been able to get the necessary information to detect different crimes in the state. This has given the command the successes that have recorded so far.

    He emphasised that the successes recorded so far in 2018 was a result of the synergy between the police, other security agencies and the peace loving people of Gombe.

    Olukolu appealed to the citizens of the state to always provide useful information to allow the police serve the public better, in a statement.

    NAN

  • Gombe at risk of undetected leprosy cases – Expert

    Gombe at risk of undetected leprosy cases – Expert

    Dr Mustapha Musa, Officer in charge of Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Unit, says Gombe State is at risk of an increase of undetected leprosy cases.

    Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday that the alarm followed the non-replacement of some retiring technical field officers who were responsible for the detection of cases.

    The expert attributed the problem to lack of support by the Netherlands Leprosy Relief Programme in the last one year.

    According to him, the Netherlands Country Office situated in Jos, Plateau, had been closed down late 2016 and there is no longer support for leprosy.

    Musa said that the office was supporting 13 states in the country, Gombe inclusive.

    He noted that the support, which was previously given to them, was contributing to early detection and management.

    “The Netherlands office was providing Prednisolone and Rifampicin tablets for the early treatment of leprosy to prevent deformity as well as technical support in terms of training staff who will go down to communities to detect cases.

    “Our technical experts who are trained on early detection of leprosy are retiring and we are lacking funds to train those that will replace them.

    “We are no longer receiving support from Netherlands, Government at all levels should wake up and provide funding for training and all the necessary things needed,’’ Musa said.

    He said from January 2017 to date only 16 new cases were detected, adding that the number has drastically dropped because of the dwindling support.

    “Decline in number of cases in Gombe state does not translate to lack of the cases completely but because of lack of support to go into the communities and detect new cases,” he said

    However, he commended the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its intervention.

    Leprosy is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium known as mycobacterium leprae.

    NAN

  • Police nab 3 suspects with N22.5m fake notes in Gombe

    The Gombe State Police Command on Friday paraded three suspects alleged to be involved in motorcycle theft and fake currency dealings in the state.

     

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Shina Olukolu told newsmen in Gombe that one of the suspects allegedly belong to a syndicate that specialized in motorcycle theft.

    Olukolu said that 14 motorcycles were recovered from the man, who allegedly confessed to have stolen 17 motorcycles of recent.

     

    The commissioner said that the rest of those arrested were nabbed in possession of N22.5 million fake currency notes.

     

    “I am happy to report that credible information was received from members of the public which led to the arrest and recovery of the motorcycles.

    “In addition, operatives at the Federal Special Anti- Robbery Squad (FSARS) Gombe, caught the fake currency dealers during a stop and search operation around Biliri area.

    “In the process, the sum of N22.5 million, all in N1,000 notes, were recovered. Investigation is on-going to arrest others involved in the crime,’’ he said.

    During interrogation, one of the suspects said that the N22.5 million was to be sold for N225,000 while N100,000 was sold for N10,000.

    The suspect regretted going into fake currency business and advised those still in the business to have a rethink as crime does not pay.

    Another suspect said he had been in the fake currency business for over a year and operated between Gombe and Nasarawa states.

     

    Police arrest man who poses as woman to defraud American of $80,000 on dating site