TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kaduna State

  • Kaduna Govt douses heightened fear in Zaria

    Kaduna Govt douses heightened fear in Zaria

    The Kaduna State Government has said there is no presence of hundreds of bandits at Dumbi and Jaji along the route to Zaria that stops citizens from entering or exiting the metropolitan northern Nigeria city.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Kaduna State Government made this known, dousing heightened in Zaria in a statement released on Wednesday by Samuel Aruwan, the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs.

    A message had been circulating widely via the WhatsApp social messaging app that advise citizens not to enter or exit Zaria, alleging the presence of hundreds of bandits at Dumbi and Jaji along the route to Zaria.

    “The Kaduna State Government wishes to firmly debunk that message and urges citizens to disregard it completely. It is an obvious attempt to spread panic.

    “The Kaduna State Government assures all citizens and travellers that the Kaduna-Zaria route is safe for travel. Residents are urged to go about their normal activities and pay no attention to the false report,” the State Government clarified.

     

  • BREAKING: 7 more kidnapped victims of Abuja-Kaduna train attack released

    BREAKING: 7 more kidnapped victims of Abuja-Kaduna train attack released

    Seven (7) more kidnapped victims of the Abuja-Kaduna train attack have regained their freedom.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the victims were released in the early hours of Wednesday.

    Recall that terrorists attacked a Kaduna-bound train on the 28th of March, and kidnapped a number of travellers.

    Seven abductees have been freed from the custody of the bandits and they include six members of the same family and a woman.

    The victims were released on Wednesday morning after spending 135 days in the custody of the terrorists.

    It is however not clear if any ransom was paid to the terrorists for their release.

    Tukur Mamu, Media Consultant to controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi confirmed the release of the abductees to newsmen.

    The identities of the released family of six are Abubakar Idris Garba, his wife, Maryam Abubakar Bobo, and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba, who’s 10 years old.

    Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba (7), Imran Abubakar Garba (5), and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba, who is only one and half years old.

    Abubakar Idris Garba, a staff of the National Assembly Service Commission, is the son of a former military administrator of Kano and Benue states.

    Also released is a 60-year-old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan, who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.

    It was gathered that they were released by the terrorists at a location inside the forest along the Kaduna – Abuja highway.  From there, they were picked up by their relatives.

    The terrorists are still holding over 30 people hostage from the Kaduna-Abuja attack.

  • Six killed, 40 injured as Shiites clash with security agents in Kaduna

    Six killed, 40 injured as Shiites clash with security agents in Kaduna

    Security agents have killed at least six persons and injured about 40 other followers of the Shiite group under the leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.

    This is contained in a short statement, by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) on Monday, stating that the incident occurred during the group’s Ashura mourning procession in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    “Security forces have, today, Monday, gunned down at least seven followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), and injured over 40 others during the Ashura mourning procession in Zaria which was observed peacefully across Nigeria and different parts of the world,” the statement read.

    Also, the leader of the movement in Zaria, Abdulhamid Bello, alleged that a combined team of security operatives shot indiscriminately at the members.

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    Bello identified those killed to include Jafar Jushi, Kazeem Magume, Ali Samaru, Muhsin Zakzaky, Umar Fatika and another member who he could not identify as of the time of filing this report.

    Protesting Shi’ites demand El-Zakzaky’s travel documents’ release
    He added that the total casualty figures had yet to be ascertained, noting, however, that “a lot of them have been rushed to St Luke’s Hospital, Wusasa, while those in critical condition were taken to ABU Teaching Hospital, Shika l, also in Zaria.

    When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Jalinge, said he was aware of the incident but had yet to be briefed.

    Meanwhile, the procession, which also took place at the everbusy Leventis Roundabout in Kaduna metropolis and Kawo Bridge, was said to be peaceful with no cases of casualties.

    A leader of the IMN, Aiyu Umar, who led the procession in Kaduna, said, “Today, we came out in order to commemorate the day of Ashura.

    “The importance of the day is a day of seeking justice as Imam Hussein did. We use this date to remind the people that this day is the day of justice and people should emulate Imam Hussein in seeking justice.”

  • Kaduna rector, lady regain freedom after 48 hours in kidnappers’ den

    Kaduna rector, lady regain freedom after 48 hours in kidnappers’ den

    The abducted Rector of the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Amos Magbon and one other lady regained their freedom on Thursday after spending 48 hours in captivity.

    Magbon was kidnapped along with one other lady on Tuesday while the father of a journalist working with NAN gruesomely killed by the kidnappers.

    Reacting to the development, a resident, Adamu Isiaku who confirmed the incident said the duo was released on Thursday evening having paid a ransom.

    He called on the government to deploy security operatives and ensure they are stationed in the area in order to forestall future occurrences.

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    According to him, a sum of N150,000 was paid to secure the release of the lady who is a granddaughter to the late. Father of the NAN’s correspondent while the sum of N1 million was paid for the release of the rector.

    “Since her grandfather was shot dead they decided to release the lady after N150,000 was paid to the bandits while a sum of N1 million was paid to secure the release of the rector,” he said.

    He explained that one of the victims told them that the bandits took them to Zangang community in Takad Chiefdom just few kilometers away from the local government area and alleged that the bandits were young Fulani boys.

    Another source said a medical checkup was conducted on the duo to ensure they were in good condition.

    Another resident, Samaila John who further confirmed the duo’s release expressed sadness that the community and almost all parts of Kaduna State could no longer sleep with their eyes closed.

    He pleaded with government to ensure a drastic measure is taken to bring the security problem to an end.

    According to John, “Many of us are afraid to go to our farms because of security fears. Many of those who have taken the bull by the horns and gone to till the land to be able to feed end up either being abducted or killed. It is frightening.”

  • “Gunmen invaded my home, killed my father, went away with my niece”

    “Gunmen invaded my home, killed my father, went away with my niece”

    Gunmen invaded my home in the village of Manchok in the middle of Tuesday night, killed my father and went away with my niece, Philip Yatai has disclosed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that some gunmen on Tuesday night at about 9:00 pm invaded the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The invasion left one dead and two kidnapped; including the Rector/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Mr Amos Mangbon.

    Findings reveal the deceased is an 86-year-old ex-staff of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Daniel Yatai, who is a resident of the community and father of Philip.

    “Gunmen invaded my home in the village (Manchok) middle of Tuesday night, killed my father and went away with my niece… In all, we give thanks to God,” Philip wrote on Facebook.

    Though police authorities are yet to confirm the incident, it was gathered that the gunmen in their large numbers started shooting sporadically to scare residents when they invaded the community.

    The daughter of the victim, Miss Christiana Yatai, told Channels Television that the bandits gained access to their house through the fence.

    She said the bandits ordered them to open the door and when they refused, they forced it open and entered the house, after which one of them shot her father at the back through the window, while the rest who entered the room also reigned more bullets on the victim, which led to his death.

    The bandits also went away with one of the victims’ relatives, Miss Brenda Friday, a 21-year-old student of Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya.

    A family member, Joseph Yatai told Channels Television that the bandits have contacted them and are demanding N15 million as ransom to release the girl.

    “We are five in the house: myself, my dad, my mum, two of my niece, and a nephew,” the source said.

    “They asked us to open the door and when we refused they break the main entrance door and gained access to the house.

    “My father was in his room and one of them wearing a mask, who was outside the house, shot him through the window and hit him from the back.  Those who entered the house later went to his room and finished him off.

    “They went away with one of my nieces, Ms. Brenda Friday, 21, a final year student of Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya.”

  • Celebrated newspaper Editor, Abdulhamid Babatunde is dead

    Celebrated newspaper Editor, Abdulhamid Babatunde is dead

    Veteran journalist and celebrated newspaper Editor, Abdulhamid Babatunde is dead, according to Abdulkadir Ahmed Ibrahim, a former National Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone A.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Babatunde died on Thursday in his sleep at his residence along Mali Crescent, Malali, Kaduna State, where funeral prayers for the repose of his soul were held in the morning and was later buried at a public cemetery in the State.

    Born on February 26, 1956, Babatunde attended Kano Capital School and the Capital School Kaduna in the 1960s before proceeding to Barewa College Zaria and Government Secondary School Ilorin.

    With passion for journalism, he joined the service of the New Nigerian Newspaper based in Kaduna, in 1974. He was a Correspondent (State Editor) of the New Nigerian Newspaper in Kano State from 1980 to 1984.

    The vibrant journalist effectively covered the socio-economic and political developments of the cosmopolitan, commercial, cultural and religious state and wrote news stories and articles on the people and events of Kano State at that time.

    Abdulhamid Babatunde was transferred back to Kaduna in late 1984 and became the News Editor and later Associate Editor (News) of the New Nigerian before joining the Democrat Newspaper as an Editor in 1988 and later the Editor in Chief.

    When the newspaper ceased publication in the 1996, he went into Media Consultancy and established Slim Jenkins Media Services a professional consultancy firm, offering qualitative media, editorial, publicity, training, advertisement and related communication services for print, electronic, web and public enlightenment formats to corporate and individual clients.

    Abdulhamid Babatunde Agaka, who attended several media trainings, workshops and conferences at home and abroad, is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos which he attended 1976-1978

    An active member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in Kano (1980 to 1984) the late Editor was later inducted into the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, where he was once the Vice President (North) of the Guild. Abdulhamid was awarded a Fellow of the NGE.

    Alhaji Abdulhamid, who was once the Secretary of the Jokolo Committee set up by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 1999, is survived by four children: Ahmad, Maryam, Halima and Abdulhamid (Jnr).

    He is also survived by other siblings including Malam Ismail Ila Agaka, a former Managing Director Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and Ilyasu Baba Agaka, a Director at the Presidency among others.

    It would be recalled that the seasoned journalist and media consultant, had lost his first and former wife, Salamatu Babatunde, last month

  • Buhari condemns murder of Catholic Priest in Kaduna

    Buhari condemns murder of Catholic Priest in Kaduna

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the murder of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr.  John Cheitnum of the Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, four days after he was abducted by gunmen.

    Reacting to the incident in a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Wednesday, Buhari said:

    “I am deeply disturbed by the murder of this revered religious figure by outlaws who seem to be bent on creating chaos and disorder in the country.

    “The persistent attack on innocent people, including religious figures, by gunmen is a matter of grave concern for this administration, because security is one of the major issues of our campaign promises.

    “Let me reassure Nigerians that my commitment to this issue is as firm as ever. I have always made it a duty to regularly summon security chiefs to discuss these challenges and the way forward.

    “I’m not allowing the security chiefs to rest unless and until we find a very effective solution to this disturbing security situation.’’

    According to him, the security of all Nigerians remains his major priority.

    “I assure Nigerians that we are determined to crush these enemies of humanity with all the resources at our disposal,” he further declared.

    He extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and Christian Association of Nigeria leadership in Kaduna State over the death of Cheitnum.

  • Woman drags ex-husband to court for marrying her best friend

    Woman drags ex-husband to court for marrying her best friend

    A 25-year-old woman, Firdausi Musa, on Monday dragged her former husband Saidu Abubakar before a Shari’a court in Kaduna for marrying her best friend.

    The complainant, through her lawyer Ms Zainab Murtala, said that the defendant also handed over her marriage suitcases and gifts to his new wife.

    “We got married recently but never settled in any apartment for two months, he only booked hotels for us to meet.

    “Along the way, he divorced me and we later settled and he divorced me again and married my best friend, giving her all my items including my clothes to wear,” she said.

    She prayed the court to assist her to recover all her marriage gifts and the ones she bought herself when she went for lesser Hajj.

    She said she never requested for divorce from the defendant.

    On his part, the defendant who was represented by his counsel, Abubakar Sulaiman denied giving his former wife any marriage gifts.

    The judge, Malam Rilwanu Kyaudai, adjourned the matter until Aug. 9 for the defendant’s counsel to re-examine witnesses.

  • BREAKING: CAN chairman, one other priest kidnapped in Kaduna

    BREAKING: CAN chairman, one other priest kidnapped in Kaduna

    The Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna State has announced the abduction of Rev. Fr. John Cheitnum and Rev. Fr. Donatus Cleopas.

    Chietnum is the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    In a statement, the Chancellor of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, said that the two priests were kidnapped on Friday at the rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, Yadin Garu, in Lere Local Government Area.

    “It is with great pain that we announce to you the kidnapping of two of our priests: Rev. Frs. John Cheitnum and Donatus Cleopas.

    “The sad event occurred around 5:45 p.m. on July 15, 2022. It happened shortly after the two priests, who were on their way to a function at a different parish, arrived at the parish rectory of Christ the King Catholic Church, Yadin Garu in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” he said.

    Okolo solicited prayers for quick release of the two priests, while cautioning residents against taking laws into their hands.

    He said that the church would use every legitimate means to secure the safe release of the priests.

  • Gunmen abduct CAN chairman, one Catholic priest in Kaduna

    Gunmen abduct CAN chairman, one Catholic priest in Kaduna

    In Kaduna state, two Catholic priests were kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Friday.

    The priests whose names have been given as  Reverend Father John Cheitnum and Reverend Father Donatus Cleopas were abducted at Yadin Gura in Lere Local Government of Kaduna State.

    In a statement on Friday night, signed by the Chancellor of Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo, he said Reverend Father Cheitnum is the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Jema’a Local Government Area of the State.

    He noted that the two priests were kidnapped on Friday, on their mission to a function in another Catholic church in the state.

    The chancellor appealed to all to pray for the quick release of the abducted priests in the state.

    Although, the abductors have not called to ask for any ransom or say anything concerning the abductees.

    Catholic priests in Kaduna have come under attack by armed bandits in recent times.

    Reverend Father Vitus Borogo was killed two months ago while working on his farm at Kujama, while several others have been kidnapped.

    The Kaduna Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Mohammed Jalige is yet to respond to the abduction of the two priests as of the time of filing this report.