TheNewsGuru

Tag: Jangebe

  • A country led by the blind and deaf – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa

    THE story of 14-year-old Habiba, a student of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara State, is heart-wrenching.

    Bandits raided her home three months ago, killing her uncle and abducting her father and elder sister. Then on February 26, 2021 bandits invaded her school, abducted her and 316 other girls aged between 12 and 17 years. When they got to the kidnappers camp, she met her father and sister who had been unable to raise the ransom demanded by the kidnappers.

    Habiba, from Ankah Local Government Area, said her father warned her not to let the bandits know their relationship as they might kill him.

    She told the Daily Trust Newspapers: “They inflicted injury on him by cutting him with machete and beatings. Whenever I saw them beating him, I would cry.

    What is more annoying is that the Nigerian state which could not protect the children against bandits, further endangered the lives of the children, their parents and guardians by pointedly shooting at them after their release.

    It was really disturbing. They said they would kill them if ransom is not paid.” She was released with her colleagues after four days. Imagine the trauma of a mere 14-year-old.

    What is more annoying is that the Nigerian state which could not protect the children against bandits, further endangered the lives of the children, their parents and guardians by pointedly shooting at them after their release. Parents were said to have been worried that the handover ceremony of the girls was getting too prolonged and they needed to get back to their homes before it got dark as the roads are unsafe. At a point they began to throw stones at government officials and the armed forces responded by shooting live ammunition at them resulting in casualties.

    Meanwhile, the same Zamfara State continued to witness more kidnapping with a fresh batch of 60 women and children kidnapped in a single bandit operation. At the weekend, the bandits extended their theatre of operation by attacking the Kaduna International Airport and abducting nine.

    Despite the grave security situation in the country which calls for unity of purpose and action, the political elite are busy at diversions and bickering. For example, as a security measure, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, declared a no-fly zone across Zamfara State and banned all mining activities. However, the State Governor, Bello Matawalle, made jest of the order saying: “People don’t even know that Zamfara does not have an airport.”

    He said the order was an attempt to impose a state of emergency and said claims that the bandits are getting arms supply by aircraft is a lie: “It is just misinformation and if anybody has that proof, he should prove it beyond reasonable doubt.” He said that by such decision it seems the Federal Government “doesn’t understand the nature of the security problems in Zamfara State, but if they decided to take such action let them go ahead.” Although Matawalle later made a half-hearted acceptance of the order, it was clear he does not believe it will address the security challenges in the state.

    In another part of the country, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who had said regardless of the country’s laws, Fulani herders should carry guns, accused his Benue State counterpart, Governor Samuel Ortom of criminalising the entire Fulani across the country.

    Ortom, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, like Mohammed, replied: “Since he (Bala Mohammed) has chosen to vilify and intimidate me, I am compelled to think that he is one of the Fulani terrorists terrorising this country. Why did I say so?

    “This is the same governor who took oath of office to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution does not give room or allow foreign armed Fulani herdsmen, Tiv people or Yoruba or any ethnic group to come in and to carry arms.” Both governors are still trying to patch their differences.

    South West Governors have tried to stem the tide of kidnapping and banditry in the region by banning open grazing, grazing at night, grazing by underage children and cattle movement within the cities and on highways. They also banned herders from living or operating from the government forest reserves. But Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, shot verbal missiles at the governors, saying their decision was responsible for the flare up of ethnic violence in the region.

    Lawan claimed that: “Leadership failures in the region caused what happened in Oyo State and other things that kept happening in the South Western states. “Some utterances by some governors also went a long way in inciting the citizens to take up arms against other ethnic groups settling in their states. The governors’ utterances emboldened the criminals to unleash violence against the Northerners.” The governors chose largely to ignore Lawan perhaps they thought it better not to dignify him with a serious response.

    Yet, another missile from the Senate. Senator Smart Adeyemi while contributing to a motion on Safe School Initiative in the country veered off to attack Abia State leaders. He claimed that: “In some states where we have highly intelligent people, highly educated people, very enterprising people, like Abia, they are governed by drunkards.

    The governor of Abia is a champagne drinking man. Abia people are impoverished more than ever before. Abia people are unfortunate.” Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu responded: “What you say, the things you say, and where you say them speaks a lot about who you are. According to Chinua Achebe: If a mad man takes your clothes while bathing and you take off after him naked, no one will know who is mad between the two of you.”

    Meanwhile in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma squared up in an armed conflict with his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, a serving senator. This involved security men and hoodlums reportedly armed with grenades, guns, cudgels and bottles. It centred around property owned by Okorocha but which Uzodimma said had been confiscated by the state government.

    Okorocha who seemed to have lost this round of the battle told the country: “They shot my aides and destroyed all my cars… More than 200 gunshots were fired at my aides. Hope Uzodimma wants to rule Imo State by intimidation.” Uzodimma responded that his predecessor is a hoodlum: “He went there with thugs himself physically, wounded the policemen there, and wounded the civil defence people…” The second part of the battle is awaited.

    In the South West, immediate past Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, was busy in battle against incumbent Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, in a power struggle within the PDP.

    In the midst of these leadership crises, we have a governor like Yahaya Bello who, despite the death of over 2.5 million persons, including 1,954 Nigerians from COVID-19, is incapable of comprehending the scientific truth that the pandemic is real, saying he wants to be President. Why are we so blessed?

  • School’s watchman assisted bandits in kidnapping of Zamfara schoolgirls – Gov Matawalle

    School’s watchman assisted bandits in kidnapping of Zamfara schoolgirls – Gov Matawalle

    Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle has alleged that the watchman of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata-Mafara LGA of Zamfara was involved in the abduction of over 270 schoolgirls the state.

    Matawalle who made the remarks during an appearance Channels Television programme said bandits the named the watchman of the school as the facilitator of the abduction.

    Recall TheNewsGuru reported that over 270 schoolgirls who were abducted from the Jangebe’s school in February were released on Tuesday.

    Speaking on the identities of the abductors, the governor said bandits the named the watchman of the school as the facilitator of the abduction.

    Matawalle said an investigation will be carried out, but he did not reveal the identities of other abductors.

    “…Even the watchman of the school…. The children have mentioned that when they were there; after releasing them, the bandits were telling them (the schoolgirls) to greet the watchman for them,” he said.

    “They even mentioned his name that he is the one who gave them the go-ahead to come, so he was involved.

    “They have said this in front of the commissioner of police in Zamfara state. Investigation will be carried out and all people involved will be known.”

    Addressing he no-fly zone order issued by President Muhammadu Buhari, the governor said he has accepted the decision of the president, but added that he should have been consulted before the decision was taken.

    “I thought the security council should invite me so that I can come inform them and give them more information that can help them to do whatever they want to do,” he said.

  • Buhari celebrates release of abducted Zamfara schoolgirls

    Buhari celebrates release of abducted Zamfara schoolgirls

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed “overwhelming joy” over release of abducted female students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in Zamfara.

    While reacting to the development in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday, the President said:

    “I join the families and people of Zamfara in welcoming and celebrating the release of these traumatized female students.”

    President Buhari said he was excited that their ordeal came to a happy end without any incident, adding that “being held in captivity is an agonizing experience not only for the victims, but also their families and all of us.”

    However, while celebrating the release of the students, the president called for greater vigilance by the people so that human intelligence could be collected early enough to nip the bandits’ plans in the bud.

    According to him, the time has come to reverse, completely, the grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping.

    “Ransom payments will continue to prosper kidnapping,” he warned, while urging the Police and the Military to go after these kidnappers and bring them to justice.

  • Our abductors threatened to kill, fry and eat us – Jangebe abductee

    Our abductors threatened to kill, fry and eat us – Jangebe abductee

    One of the victims of last Friday’s Zamfara Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, abduction, Hafsat Anka, said the captives threatened to kill, fry and eat them if they misbehaved.

    Hafsat, while narrating her ordeal to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Government House, Gusau, shortly after regaining freedom, stated that they trekked over a long distance from the school, had a stopover for some hours before they reached their destination.

    “There was no clean water or good food, and we felt we had already spent years even though it was our first day and the bandits kept firing into the air to scare us.

    “They were very young boys with on one elder they called Kasalle or Yaya who gave them instructions, and he was the one that stopped them from touching any of us,” Hafsat stated.

    According to her, the bandits wore military uniforms and claimed they defeated the security officials by invading the school and successfully whisking the girls away.
    Hafsat, who said she was happy for being rescued, pointed out that she would continue her studies but as a day student.
    NAN reports that the students were abducted last Friday around 2: 00 a.m. generating public outcry across the world, with many calling on the government and security agencies to ensure their safe return.

  • Jangebe abduction will be the last – Buhari

    Jangebe abduction will be the last – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that last Friday’ abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, will be the last to happen.

    The president’s statement was relayed on Sunday, through Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, who led a high-powered federal government delegation to sympathise with the people and government of Zamfara.

    He said new measures had been developed by the federal government which would bring complete end to all forms of criminality in the nation.

    “The President is saddened by the abduction of the students from Jangebe and reassures you that the government has all the resources and wherewithal to contain these criminals.

    “Buhari also commended Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara’s efforts
    against armed banditry and promised a continued support to bringing lasting peace.

    “The federal government will continue its partnership with Zamfara government and its citizens in resolving the security challenges facing the state,” Buhari said.

    In his response, Gov. Matawalle appreciated Buhari and the federal government’s concern, noting that very soon the abductees would regain their freedom.

    “I strongly believe in the president and his effort in fighting all forms of insurgence and urge him to improve on the nation’s security.

    ”This is by ensuring synergy among the security agencies so that confrontations with criminals can be coordinated on ground and air simultaneously,” the governor said.

    Other members of the delegation were the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sa’adiya Umar-Faruk and Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen.

  • Zamfara govt: ‘Abducted schoolgirls not released, negotiation still ongoing’

    Zamfara govt: ‘Abducted schoolgirls not released, negotiation still ongoing’

    Zamfara State government has debunked reports that students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have been released by their captors.

    Reacting to the reports on Twitter, Zamfara’s Commissioner for Information, Suleiman Tunau Anka, cautioned the public to disregard fake news in the media regarding the released of abducted students of GGSS Jangebe.

    Similarly, Yusuf Idris, media aide to Governor Bello Matawalle, told newsmen on Sunday that efforts were still ongoing to secure their release.

    He made the clarification following media reports that the girls had regained freedom.

    Idris said: “I want to call the attention of the good people of Zamfara State, they should disregard any fake news regarding the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe by one national daily. It’s not true. But, Alhamdulillah, the state government and securities are their trying their best,” he said in a short message he made available to our reporter.

    The governor’s spokesperson, Mr Idris, also urged the public to ignore the media reports that the students had been released, calling on the parents and residents of the state to pray for the safe return of the students.

    “The state government is committed for safe return of the students sooner or later, we should please exercise patience,” the official said.

  • Buhari’s aide gives update on release of Jangebe schoolgirls

    Buhari’s aide gives update on release of Jangebe schoolgirls

    Aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie has confirmed all 317 schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara local Government Area of Zamfara State were released.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Jangebe schoolgirls were released on Sunday and were received at the palace of the Emir of Anka waiting transportation to Gusau, the State capital.

    Onochie, giving the update on the release of the schoolgirls, thanked men and women of the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). She also expressed thanks to the Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle for the release of the schoolgirls.

    “317 kidnapped Jangebe School girls have been released safely. Kudos to the men and women of our @HQNigerianArmy and the @PoliceNG

    “Well done too, to the Governor and the Chief Security Officer of Zamfara State. When all the states work well, the nation is better of,” Onochie tweeted, following the release of the schoolgirls.

    At the time of filing this report, it is not clear how much was paid as ransom for the release of the Jangebe schoolgirls.

    Recall the Jangebe schoolgirls, 317 of them, were kidnapped from the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe in the early hours of Friday.

    On December 11th, 2020 bandits took 303 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina into captivity.

    On February 17, bandits kidnapped 41 students and staff of the Government Science Secondary, Kagara, Niger State.

    The 317 schoolgirls kidnapped from the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe is the latest in a series of attacks carried out by bandits on schools across the Northern parts of Nigeria.

  • BREAKING: Kidnapped Zamfara schoolgirls regain freedom

    BREAKING: Kidnapped Zamfara schoolgirls regain freedom

    The schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara local Government Area of Zamfara State have just been released.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports they are currently in the palace of the Emir of Anka waiting for transportation to Gusau, the State capital.

    “BREAKING: Zamfara Govt Confirms Release Of Abducted Jangebe Schoolgirls,” aide to Yemi Osinbajo tweeted.

    While details of their release are still sketchy at the time of filing this report, Philip Obin, Technical Assistant to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on New Media revealed the Zamfara State Government has confirmed release of the abducted schoolgirls.

     

     

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Jangebe schoolgirls escape from kidnappers den

    BREAKING: Jangebe schoolgirls escape from kidnappers den

    Seven out of the 317 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara local Government Area of Zamfara State have escaped from their kidnappers den.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 7 seven schoolgirls escaped and reached home on Friday evening, coming less than 10 days after a similar incident happened at Government Science college, Kagara, Niger State.

    A resident in Kawaye village, who identified himself as Sadi Kawaye said his daughters, Mansura and Sakina were among those abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe.

    An undisclosed source narrated to Channels TV how the 7 schoolgirls manoeuvred their way to escape from the kidnappers den.

    Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has described the abduction of the Government Girls Secondary School girls from Jangebe in Zamfara State as inhumane and totally unacceptable, sending out a strong warning to bandits and their sponsors.

    Reacting to the incident on Friday, President Buhari said that “this administration will not succumb to blackmail by bandits who target innocent school students in the expectations of huge ransom payments.”

    According to the President, “no criminal group can be too strong to be defeated by the government,” adding that, “the only thing standing between our security forces and the bandits are the rules of engagement.”

    “We have the capacity to deploy massive force against the bandits in the villages where they operate, but our limitation is the fear of heavy casualties of innocent villagers and hostages who might be used as human shields by the bandits,” he said, stressing that “our primary objective is to get the hostages safe, alive and unharmed.”

    President Buhari noted that “a hostage crisis is a complex situation that requires maximum patience in order to protect the victims from physical harm or even brutal death at the hands of their captors.”

    He warned the bandits: “Let them not entertain any illusions that they are more powerful than the government. They shouldn’t mistake our restraint for the humanitarian goals of protecting innocent lives as a weakness or a sign of fear or irresolution.”

    The President appealed to state governments “to review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles, warning that the policy might boomerang disastrously.”

    He also advised states and local governments to be more proactive by improving security around schools and their surroundings.

  • [2014 – 2021] Timeline of mass school kidnappings in Nigeria

    [2014 – 2021] Timeline of mass school kidnappings in Nigeria

    Gun wielding daredevils have for a couple of years launched coordinated attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria particularly in the northern part.

    Unfortunately, school children have become the latest high-profile kidnapping targets in these attacks.

    What stated as a strange occurrence in Chibok, Borno State in 2014 is fast becoming the norm seven years after, with the latest happening on Friday (today).

    Suspected gunmen attacked a school in Zamfara State, abducting scores of students in the third mass abduction in the past three months.

    The attackers stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in Jangebe in the wee hours of the day.

    Hours later, the Zamfara State Police Command confirmed that three hundred and seventeen students (317) were abducted in the latest kidnapping, a development which Amnesty International described as an “attack on education in Northern Nigeria.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG listed below a compilation of the attacks by suspected gunmen from 2014 to date:

    14th April 2014: Boko Haram terrorists invade Chibok School

    The first of these school abductions dated back to April 14th, 2014 when terrorist group Boko Haram attacked the Girls Secondary School in Chibok, a town on the border between Borno and Adamawa states.

    About two hundred students were said to have been kidnapped during the attack in the northeast, a region ravaged by incessant assaults by the terror group.

    The country’s security agencies in the wake of the abduction moved to rescue the schoolchildren. The efforts have yielded some results as 107 of them have been reunited with their families.

    19th Feb. 2018: Boko Haram terrorists abduct Dapchi School Girls in Yobe State

    Barely four years after the attack on Chibok, the insurgents took their onslaught to Yobe, another state in the troubled northwest region. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed confirmed that 110 students were kidnapped after Boko Haram invaded the Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) in Dapchi, on Monday, February 19, 2018.

    When the gunmen attacked the all-girls boarding school, many residents of the town had thought they were security forces as they came in camouflaged vehicles.

    Although most of the students have reunited with their families after they were released (on March 21, 2018) by their abductors, Leah Sharibu, is yet to be freed by the gunmen. Reports suggest the 14-year-old, a Christian, wasn’t freed with the others because she refused to convert to Islam.

    Her continued stay in the terrorists’ den has become a subject of national and global interests. But the Nigerian government says it is committed to getting her out of captivity

    11th Dec. 2020: Gunmen Kidnap Kankara Boys

    While the country battles to eradicate terror attacks from Boko Haram, mass kidnapping of schoolchildren spread to the northwestern region. On Friday, December 11th, bandits took three hundred and three students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina into captivity.

    The incident which happened just as President Buhari embarked on a week-long vacation in his home state of Katsina, security experts believe, further underscored the porous nature of Nigerian schools.

    But, a week after the students were taken into captivity, their abductors released them. The government denied paying a ransom to secure the students from the all-boys educational institution.

    The presidency had said the release of the students is a pointer to the administration’s resolve to ensure the safety of Nigerians, thanking security agencies for their swiftness.

    Feb. 17th 2021: Bandits abduct another 41 In Kagara, Niger State

    Gunmen invaded a school in Niger State on Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 kidnapping 41 persons.

    The gunmen raided the Government Science College Kagara, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, capturing students, teachers, and their family members from the school. Twenty-seven students were among the abductees.

    Buhari had, following the incident, given a marching order to security agents to rescue the students and ensure they return and are reunited with their parents unhurt.

    The State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello had also ordered the closure of all boarding schools in the northcentral state, a move he said, was to forestall similar mass abduction.

    26th Feb. 2021: 317 Female Students Abducted In Jangebe, Zamfara State

    Less than ten days after the bandits raided Kagara, gunmen kidnapped 317 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Science Secondary School Jangebe in Jangebe, Zamfara State. The incident happened on Friday, February 26th, 2021

    The all-female school located in Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of the state was attacked past midnight. Police authorities in Zamfara say rescue efforts are in top gear, calling for calm among residents of the state.