Kaduna State government on Thursday warned people planning to incite public upheaval in the state to shelve the idea or face dire consequences.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan stated in Kaduna that government was in possession of credible intelligence reports of plans by some politicians to sponsor public disturbance.
“Their plans include activities that could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state.
“Government continues to monitor the situation closely in collaboration with security agencies.
“It must be emphasised that persons or groups who engage in actions which could lead to civil unrest, threat to life and destruction of property, will not be spared.
“The full weight of the law will be applied on such persons or groups,’’ the commissioner stated.
He added that the suspension of street protests or processions remained in place in the overall public interest.
“Parents, guardians and community leaders are also advised to educate their wards against being used by persons who seek to prey on vulnerable emotions and volatile atmospheres to generate chaos,’’ Aruwan stressed.
The Kaduna State Governor-elect, Senator Uba Sani, has said that he will challenge some election results where the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won with unimaginable margins.
The Governor-elect who spoke in Hausa, expressed surprise that PDP won some local government areas with bogus figures.
Sani said that he will go to the Election Petition Tribunal to contest PDP’s victory in those areas, adding that after the verdict, the margin of victory between him and Alhaji Isa Ashiru, the PDP candidate, will widen.
It will be recalled that Sani was declared winner by the Returning Officer for Kaduna State and Vice-Chancellor of the Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, Prof Lawal Bilbis, on Monday.
According to the election result, Sani polled a total of 730,002 votes to defeat his closest rival, Isa Ashiru of the PDP, who polled 719,196 votes, a difference of 10,806 votes.
The Governor-elect who alleged that the election results were marred by irregularities in areas where PDP won, gave the example of Chikun local government area where the opposition got over 89,000 votes, describing the figures as unimaginable.
Sani, however, promised the people of Kaduna state ‘’to be fair to all, including those who didn’t vote for me. I’m glad with the outcome of the election. People came out and voted for me”.
On the allegation that his election was rigged, the Governor-elect said that such allegation is in the character of the Nigerian politician, adding that ‘’God gives power to whomsoever He wants and when He wants.’’
He recalled that in 2011, he lost the Kaduna central senatorial election and his supporters urged him to go to court but he refused, believing that it was not his time.
“As God willed it, I became a senator in 2019.’’
The Governor-elect expressed confidence that he will be victorious at the Election Petition Tribunal where the opposition promised to challenge his victory, adding that he will also go to court to challenge PDP’s bogus victory in some local governments.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the result of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Kaduna State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Monday night declared Sen. Uba Sani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the March 18 election.
Mr Felix Hyet, PDP chairman in the state, announced the rejection at a press briefing on Tuesday in Kaduna.
“Our fears were confirmed last night when the State Returning Officer, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, declared Sen. Uba Sani of the APC as winner with 730,002 votes against 719,196 votes allocated to our candidate, Isa Ashiru.
“The PDP rejects this declaration. We reject INEC’s claims that Uba Sani won the gubernatorial election held on the 18th of March, 2023,” Hyet declared.
The chairman commended party supporters for the support they gave to PDP during the election.
He assured them that the party would not leave any stone unturned in the quest to reclaim its mandate.
“We have commenced actions necessary and in accordance with the law with a view to addressing the development,” he said.
Hyet, however, called on the party supporters to continue to support and pray for the PDP as it pursues the matter to a logical conclusion.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani, has emerged winner of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Announcing the outcome of the election on Monday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Lawal Bilbis of Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, said Sani polled 730,002 votes to defeat his closest contender, Ashiru Kudan of PDP, who garnered 719,196 votes.
The Labour Party (LP) party’s gubernatorial candidate, Mr Jonathan Asake, came third with 58,283 votes.
Reviewing the votes obtained during the election, the Returning Officer said a total of 1,565,861 votes were cast, out of which 19,114 were declared invalid.
Eleven candidates of other political parties contested in the election.
I stand by my promises to the people, says Kaduna Governor-elect
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor-elect has pledged to fulfil the promises he made to the people during his campaign.
Sani, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated this in his acceptance speech in Kaduna on Monday after he was declared winner of the election.
He thanked people of the state for reposing their confidence in him, assuring that he would not betray their trust.
Sani commended the efforts of APC leaders at all levels for their commitment to ensure the success of the party.
He also thanked the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari, for their support.
Four people are suspected to have been killed when security operatives attached to the convoy of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State clashed with Shi’ite members in Bakin Ruwa Area of Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Thursday.
Details of the incident are sketchy but sources said that the clash happened around 4:15pm when the governor visited the community.
It was gathered that the convoy came in contact with the Shi’ite members who were performing their weekly procession at Bakin Ruwa along Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway.
According to Tasiu Muhammed, an eyewitness, some of the Shi’ite members started shouting as the convoy tried to pass through the procession.
He said the situation led to commotion as the security men opened fire when some youth threw stones at them.
A relation of Yushehu Muhammed, one of the victims killed, said his late nephew was not a Shi’ia member but a commercial driver who was hit by a stray bullet.
‘It was a sad incident. I received a call that my nephew who was a commercial driver was hit by a bullet,” he said.
He demanded investigation as well as compensation because his nephew was a married man.
It was also gathered that the security men arrested some youths at the scene and whisked them away.
Contacted, a Shi’ite representative in the state, Abdullahi Usman, said none of those killed was their member.
According to him, they were commercial drivers at a bus stop near where the incident happened.
He also said it was not true that their members clashed or pelted the convoy with stones.
The State Police command Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Jalige, said investigation was ongoing and that a statement would be issued later.
Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, neither responded to calls nor responded to a text message sent to him as at the time of filling the report.
Ten persons have been reported killed in a fresh attack on Langson, another community of Zango’s Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that 17 persons were confirmed killed in attacks and counter attacks that took place at Ungwan Wakili and neighboring communities of the same local government area last weekend.
Chairman of the local government, Francis Sani confirmed the latest attack to journalists in Kaduna.
It was gathered that the attackers invaded the community around 9pm on Tuesday, shooting sporadically to scare residents.
It was also learnt the attackers looted a shop in the area before they were repelled by police operatives.
The Council chairman however appealed for calm and urged government to deploy more security personnel to the area to stop the persistent attacks.
National President, Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), Mr. Sam Achie passed a vote of no confidence on a section of the security operatives deployed to the area to protect lives and property.
Achie lamented the silence of the State Government to the attacks in the area, urging the government to match words with action by arresting the perpetrators.
The ACDA National President also commended the Mopol in Langson community who were said to have repelled the attackers.
He called on the people to continue to remain on alert to protect their communities and property against the oppressors who he said are bent on taking their ancestral land.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has threatened to expose ex-governors of the state for pilfering the state treasury, challenging them to swear that they never did so.
El-Rufai pointed out that he is ready to swear to prove he is telling the truth.
Challenging his predecessors, the governor also said they (ex-governors of the Kaduna State) should come out to swear, if their hands are clean.
El-Rufai said this in an interview in Hausa monitored on a local television and radio station, where he explained that his philosophy in governance was not to steal, adding that he is aware that there would be a day of reckoning.
I did not steal anybody’s money and I am challenging those who governed Kaduna to come out and swear that they’ve never stolen money
Stating that all loans secured to facilitate projects in the state during his administration were used only for the specified projects, El-Rufai said, “The people can see that we executed those projects with the loans we secured. We did not syphon the money to Dubai and buy houses, or go to Jabi road and build a mansion.
“We are not like such people. I became the governor of Kaduna State with only one house located at Danja Street in Unguwan Sarki Kaduna. I’ve completed my tenure, Alhamdulillah…that is my only house. I don’t have any other house. I didn’t build a mansion. I don’t even need it.
“I did not steal anybody’s money and I am challenging those who governed Kaduna to come out and swear that they’ve never stolen money, they should swear that they’ve not taken a kobo from Kaduna State.
Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai,
“Wallahi, l am ready to swear. I am challenging them (former governors) to come out, face the people of Kaduna State and swear that they’ve never stolen the people’s money.”
Continuing he said, “We know them, they are neither the children of Dantata ( legendary Kano billionaire) nor the children of Dangote. We know them right from our school days. Where do they get the money to build those houses? What was their profession?”
I’m happy that we constructed qualitative roads that would last for years, not those kinds of roads they’ve constructed in the past
The governor, however, stated that his administration still had work to do but boasted about the works already completed, especially the roads constructed in the state.
He said, “I’m happy that we constructed qualitative roads that would last for years, not those kinds of roads they’ve constructed in the past which after two years, after two rainy seasons the roads would be bad.
“We still have work to do. Our plan is that we want all roads in Kaduna to be tarred. Anyone who comes to Kaduna would not see a muddy road. Every part of the town you visit will have tarred roads and solar powered street lights. That’s what we envisaged everywhere in Kaduna, in Kafanchan, in Zaria and in all Local Government Areas such as Soba, everywhere. That is what we want to see.”
“However, we couldn’t realise all our development plans because of the situation this government met. In fact we had to seek loans to execute those projects.”
The Police in Kaduna State, have confirmed the occurrence of a fresh attack on Zango Kataf Local Government Area, on Saturday night.
SP Muhammad Jalije, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) confirmed this on Sunday, saying the attack occurred at 20:40hrs in Ungwan Wakili.
“I can confirm that there was an attack, and people were killed, but we are yet to ascertain the exact number of those killed.”
Jalije said prior to last night’s attacks, the police had been managing the security situation in the area, following the killing of a herder in the bush four days ago.
“Before the attacks, there was something we have been managing for four days now.
“One boy was killed in the bush while rearing his animals, and we have been on top of the situation before this unfortunate incident,” he added.
Sources, however, told NAN that the killing of the herder might not be unconnected with the latest attacks.
The death toll from last Saturday’s attack on Ungwan Wakili community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State has risen to 17.
At the scene of the attack, at least, 14 corpses were recovered this morning, aside from the one person killed yesterday and the two people that died in the hospital.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered from the military on the ground that aside from the pockets of complaints of cow poisoning and destruction of farm produce by the locals and Fulani, which they have been resolving, the recent attack might be due to the killing of a Fulani herder four days ago in Ungwan Juju apparently in retaliation of the killing of one of their locals last month.
Speaking to newsmen, the council chairman, Zango Kataf Local Government, Mr Francis Sani Zimbo, condemned the barbaric attack assuring that investigations are on to unravel the perpetrators to bring them to book.
He expressed regret on why all the Mobile Police checkpoints within the affected communities were withdrawn before last night’s attack.
Sani explained that the gunmen suspected to be militia herders invaded the community at about 9pm on Saturday and started shooting sporadically on people’s houses.
The chairman disclosed that fifteen locals mostly women and children were killed in the process, either from gunshots or machete cuts.
He further explains that the gunmen operated for some hours without any resistance from security operatives despite being located close to a mobile police checkpoint.
Meanwhile, the locals, while expressing their displeasure in protests, wondered how an attack will last about 40 minutes without a single attacker killed by the security operatives even with the presence of a forward operating base within the community.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that among the casualties are mostly women and children including a woman and her baby.
Following an attack that left 10 people and a police officer dead, the Kaduna State government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in four communities of the Zango-Kataf Local Government Area.
Yabo Chris Ephraim, Special Assistant (Media) to the executive chairman, Zangon Kataf Local Government Council, in a statement said the curfew was to allow soldiers to restore peace in the area.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that a police officer and 10 others lost their lives on Saturday night following an attack by terrorists suspected to be herdsmen in the LGA.
This comes barely 72 hours after a pastor’s son was shot dead while four others were abducted in the Karimbu-Kahugu community in Lere LGA of the state.
A source, who pleaded anonymity confirmed the sad incident. The source narrated that trouble started earlier on Saturday afternoon when a misunderstanding arose between security operatives and a Fulani man at a checkpoint in Ungwan Wakili which led to a Fulani man and a policeman being shot at the checkpoint.
The situation later escalated in the evening when a group of youths who went fishing were attacked and one person macheted to death by the retaliating Fulani terrorists.
The communities affected by the curfew include Ungwan Juju, Mabuhu, Ungwan Wakili, and Zango Urban.
Another source, a resident who did not want his name mentioned said that Angwan Wakili, Angwan Juju, and Mabuhu communities in Atyap chiefdom were under possible attack from the suspected Fulani militia.
“Yesterday, 11th March, 2023 at about 4:45pm, I got informed that the security personnel at a checkpoint in Angwan Wakili tried to stop some Fulani men who were on motorcycle, but they tried to pick a fight with the mobile police officers. One of the officers was hit with a stick by the Fulani and the officer shot one of them on his leg. In retaliation, the Fulani also shot one of the officers who quickly rushed to the hospital,” the source said.
He explained that the suspected Fulani regroup returned to the checkpoint at about 9 to 10 pm and opened fire on the security personnel.
“But by this time, it was the military that was at the checking point exchanging fire. Over 10 bodies have been confirmed dead while four sustained gunshot injuries,” he added.
The spokesman of the Kaduna Police Command, SP Mohammed Jalige, however, said he would confirm and get back with details as of the time of filing this report.
