TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kaduna State

  • Troops kill 8 bandits in Kaduna

    Troops kill 8 bandits in Kaduna

    The Kaduna State Government said troops neutralised eight bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of the State. The Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan ,confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, in Kaduna.

    Aruwan said based on operational feedback , troops commenced   fighting patrol to Kampanin Doka general area and made contact with some bandits on arrival at the location. He said the troops promptly engaged and neutralised seven of the bandits.

    “On securing and searching the area, the troops recovered, three AK-47 rifles, eight magazines, four empty and four loaded with a total of 120 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and magazine carrier,” he said.

    Aruwan said other recovered items  included six motorcycles, three mobile phones , two Baofeng radio sets and three pairs of civilian clothes. According to him during the concluding leg of the patrol, further contact was made with bandits around Gayam general area.

    ”The troops neutralised one as others were suspected to have escaped with gunshot wounds. ” he said.

    Aruwan said  Gov. Uba Sani  of Kaduna state, thanked the security forces for the feedback. According  to him, the governor also  commended the troops , under the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division Nigerian Army/Commander Operation Whirl Punch (OPWP), Maj-Gen. Mayirenso Saraso , for their valiant efforts and notable breakthrough.

    “Residents are urged to report suspicious persons seeking treatment for gunshot injuries to the Security Operations Room on  phone lines 09034000060 and 08170189999. Fighting patrols will continue within the general area and other locations of interest,“ Aruwan said.

  • Reactions as Adeboye’s son abandons top government project after 8bn payment

    Reactions as Adeboye’s son abandons top government project after 8bn payment

    Reactions have continued to trail a recent report linking Pastor Adeolu Adeboye, the son of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), to a project awarded by the Kaduna State Government to Ronchess Global Resources Plc.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Adeolu was reported to have allegedly secured the contract through Ronchess Global Resources Plc and received over ₦8 billion from the Kaduna State Government for a road construction project, but left it unfinished.

    According to Sahara Reporters, the G.O.’s son, who is said to run the company alongside his wife, filed a lawsuit (FHC/L/CS/1206/24) at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an injunction to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Kaduna State Government, and the House of Assembly from arresting or detaining him.

    TNG understands that the Kaduna State Government and the House of Assembly initiated an investigation into the alleged fraud after a team from the Kaduna State House of Assembly inspected the project site on the Wusasa to Danmagaji Nagoyi Road in the Kaduna North Local Government Area.

    The project was awarded on September 15, 2020, with a completion date of January 2, 2021. Following inspection, it was discovered that Ronchess Global Resources Plc had abandoned the site despite receiving ₦8,195,014,236.95 for the project with only 30% completion.

    To avoid the investigation, Adeolu Adeboye reportedly sought an interim order to stop the EFCC, the Kaduna State Government, and other authorities from taking further action against him.

    Granting the interim order, Justice K.O. Ogundare of the Federal High Court restrained the respondents from pursuing any steps related to the project until the court hears and determines the motion for an interlocutory injunction.

    In a counter-affidavit sworn by Mohammed Arabo on August 14, 2024, the EFCC stated that evidence of fraud and criminal diversion of public funds had been found against Adeolu and 26 other contractors. The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Ronchess Global Resources Plc had collected ₦8,185,014,328.95 while only 30% of the project was completed.

    The EFCC’s legal team, led by Femi Falana (SAN), is challenging Adeolu’s use of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, arguing that the claim does not primarily seek to enforce fundamental rights but rather to address ancillary grievances.

    Falana argued that the question to be “resolved is whether the applicant’s claim falls within the type that is enforceable as an infraction of fundamental right.”

    The EFCC’s counsel argued further: “The position of the law is that for a claim to qualify as falling under fundamental rights, it must be clear that the principal relief sought is for the enforcement or for securing the enforcement of a fundamental right and not, from the nature of the claim, to redress a grievance that is ancillary to the principal relief which itself is not ipso facto a claim for the enforcement of fundamental right.”

    Falana noted that “significantly, the claim of any breach is not like a magic wand which can be waved in the face of every claim and turn on the engine of enforcement of a right that may not be constitutional.“

    The case has been adjourned for further proceedings on September 20, 2024.

    How Nigerians reacted:

    greggnwoko9937 wrote: “The most successful industries in Nigeria today are politics and religion and Nigerians are their commodity!”

    Another user, a.i.chin wrote: “It’s interesting how I’ve not found one comment defending the suspect(s). We are getting wiser slowly.”

    uncle_koke wrote: “I Dey pity people wey dey believe all these pastors.”

    happybillionairess wrote: “The same Kaduna where Christians have been massacred for decades. They don’t care about you; they only care about their pockets. Know God for yourself.”

    Danny wrote: “Look at the people telling you the country’s problem is spiritual. Pray harder while they rake in billions.”

    Ndi Kato wrote: “Turns out part of the spiritual problem is in Daddy G.O.’s house.”

  • Kaduna: Cemetery washed away as flood hits Zaria; residents seek help

    Kaduna: Cemetery washed away as flood hits Zaria; residents seek help

    Residents of Chikaji in Sabon-Gari Local Government, Kaduna State, has appealed for assistance from government and philanthropists over flood that washed away cemetery, houses and properties in the area. The flood which ravaged the area on Monday was as a result of torrential rainfall that lasted seven hours from 5.00a.m. to 1.00p.m.

    Speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Zaria, the Village Head of Chikaji, Alhaji Auwal Sani-Dambaba said the flood affected over 200 houses in the area. He added that the flood washed away parts of the LEA Primary School and desecrated substantial part of the Ojo Cemetery.

    “Currently, the victims took shelter in the neighborhood but no loss of life during the incident. However, many graves were left opened,” the village head confirmed.

    While lamenting over the tragic incident, the village head said a day and hours after the flood, there was neither support nor assistance from government at national or sub-national levels.

    In a move to address the immediate challenges of the cemetery, the Chief Imam of Chikaji Central Mosque, Malam Suleiman Liman, said the community had summoned an emergency meeting of wealthy individuals in the area.

    The chief Imam added that the emergency meeting would also look into the plights of the flood victims.

    Malam Ibrahim Ahmed, one of the victims who was standing on the rubles of the remains of his 2-bedroom flat said they were grateful to God Almighty that the flooding occurred during the day time.

    According to him, they were evacuating water in the house when a section of the house collapsed, adding, “I didn’t remove anything from the house, because I was busy protecting my kids from the rubles of the building.”

    The victim appealed for support and quick interventions from government at all levels, wealthy individuals and other key stakeholders to cushion the effect of the flood.

    Alhaji Gafai Katsina, a community leader in the area said most of the victims of the flood were now squatting with some residents who were less affected, adding that some married women had returned to their parents pending the stability of the situation.

    He listed the worst hit areas along the water canal to include Yan-awaki (around Randa Kano) to Chikaji down to Shika Dam.

    Recall that a press statement from the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives on Tuesday bemoaned the flood in Sabon Gari and sought intervention for the victims.

    Tajuddeen sympathised with the victims of the flood, lamenting that such an unfortunate incident happened at a time when people were making efforts to make ends meet.

    He called for an urgent intervention to provide succour to the victims and urged them to stay calm as government was taking necessary measures to address their plights.

    Specifically, the Speaker called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to urgently come to the aid of the victims at this critical time.

    The Speaker equally urged residents of the affected areas and adjoining places to take precautionary measures and heed to advisory from relevant authorities on flood.

  • NDA announces date new cadets of 76 RC will resume

    NDA announces date new cadets of 76 RC will resume

    The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), has fixed Monday, Aug. 26 for the resumption of new cadets of 76 Regular Combatant Course (RC). The academy’s Public Relations Officer, Maj. Mohammed Maidawa,  made the announcement in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna.

    Maidawa said there should be strict adherence to the resumption date. He said, ”NDA wishes to inform the  public of an important update regarding the resumption date for the successful candidates admitted into the 76 Regular Combatant Course. In a previous notification, it was stated that the resumption dates for 76 RC were from  August  24 to 26. The Academy will like to state that the reviewed resumption day is Aug. 26 unfailingly. This is to allow the new cadets ample time to plan their journeys.”

    Maidawa, therefore said,  all the successful candidates are expected to report at the NDA Ribadu Campus (Old Site) between the hours of 0900 and 1800 on Monday, Aug  26. unfailingly.

    ”Failure to report on the stated date will result in the immediate substitution of the candidate with a reserve candidate,“ he said.

    Maidawa said that only candidates with genuine reasons, supported by evidence, for their inability to report on the published date would be considered for admission.

    ”All other candidates who fail to report on August 26 will forfeit their admission,” he said.

  • Man buried alive in Kaduna; police swing into action

    Man buried alive in Kaduna; police swing into action

    The Police Command in Kaduna State says it has detained two suspects for allegedly burying a man alive in Zaria.

    The command’s Spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Thursday in Kaduna.

    Hassan said that the detention of the two suspects in Zaria for alleged complicity was sequel to a viral video showing a person buried with only his head left out.

    He said that immediately the police got wind of the video, efforts were made to locate the 20-year-old victim, from Gauraki village in Kufena ward, Zaria council area, and possibly detain the culprits which eventually yielded result.

    The spokesperson further stated that preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the two suspects were working as labourers in a construction site in Abuja.

    He said that the cell phone of one of the suspects, valued at N35,000, was stolen where they were all lodged.

    Hassan said that the victim was suspected to have stolen the handset, thus making the two suspects to resolve that the victim’s daily wages would be used to buy another phone as replacement.

    He said that the victim, piqued by the suspects’ decision, left Abuja and to Zaria, where he was eventually trailed to by the suspects who are siblings.

    “On Aug. 10, the suspects located their victim and forcefully took him to an uncompleted building and dug the ground akin to a grave.

    “They bound his hands and feet, covered his mouth with a piece of clothing, placed him inside the hole and returned the earth, leaving only his head outside.

    “They left their victim in the said condition until a passerby heard his groans and alerted the public before he was rescued,” he said.

    Hassan said that the suspects, who were later arrested, admitted to committing the act during interrogation.

    He said that the Commissioner of Police, Audu Ali, warned the general public against taking law into their hands.

    The spokesperson said that the case would be carefully investigated and that the outcome would be handled professionally.

  • 11 persons killed in Kaduna road accident

    11 persons killed in Kaduna road accident

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna Sector Command, said 11 people lost their lives while four others sustained injuries in a crash in Gwargwaje, Zaria Local Government Area.

    The Sector Commander, Kabir Nadabo, who confirmed the incident on Friday in Kaduna, said:

    “A crash involving a truck with registration number BAU 142 XA and a Golf salon with registration number FST 134 FX occurred at Gwargwaje, Zaria in the early hours of Friday, at precisely, 05:50 a.m.

    “A team of policemen attached to the Gwargwaje Division conducted the rescue and informed the Unit Commander, RS1.3 Zaria, after they had finished.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the golf, carrying 11 people, all males, had engaged on a route violation, with no headlights and collided with an oncoming MAN truck with four people on board.

    “The fatal crash resulted in the instant death of all the 11 people in the golf while the four people in the truck sustained injuries,” he said.

    Nadabo said that after the rescue, a team from FRSC Zaria Unit arrived and conveyed the corpses and the injured to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika.

    He recalled that Sector Commander RS1.1 Kaduna had intimated him on the appeal by the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad  Bamalli, to  create an outpost at Gwargwaje to monitor and checkmate the excesses of motorists.

    Nadabo said that some motorists had engaged in route violation on the busy highway, when the sector commander paid the emir a courtesy visit in September, 2023

    “Gwargwaje has a roadside market with commercial activities. However, the long stretch U-turn makes it difficult for commercial riders to go round, hence they resort to route violation.

    “I am passionately appealing for the Corps Marshal’s consideration to establish an Outpost at Gwargwaje.

    “This will help stop route violation thereby saving lives and properties of motorists and commuters plying the busy highway,” Nadabo said.

  • How soldier shot my 18-year-old son dead in my house – Mother laments

    How soldier shot my 18-year-old son dead in my house – Mother laments

    Zainab Sani, mother of 18-year-old Isma’il Muhammad allegedly shot dead by a soldier on patrol in Samaru, Zaria has happened on the incident.

    The deceased’s mother said the shooting occurred around 9.00 a.m., at their residence at Sarkin Pawa Street, Samaru, Zaria, by a trigger-happy soldier on patrol alongside his colleagues.

    She said the late Isma’il was playing with his friends and brother in front of their house when they saw soldiers coming in their direction.

    “With one of the soldiers pointing his gun at them, they ran into the house and shut the gate,” she said.

    She alleged that the soldier, however, shot at the gate, thereby killing Isma’il, who stood by the gate to prevent the soldiers from gaining entrance.

    She added that his son had just written his final secondary school examination in Zaria and was seeking admission to further his education when the incident occurred.

    Meanwhile, Maj.-Gen. MLD Saraso, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, has disclosed the Nigerian Army will investigate the incident.

    Saraso disclosed this when he visited the family of the deceased in Zaria on Tuesday.

    The GOC later addressed youths in the area, saying that he was in Zaria to commiserate with the family and the community over the incident.

    He assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted on the matter and invited any community member with substantive evidence to forward the same for necessary action.

    Saraso said the incident was unfortunate, urging the community to live in peace and always abide by the law and order.

  • Young child killed by soldiers enforcing curfew as hunger protest enters day 6

    Young child killed by soldiers enforcing curfew as hunger protest enters day 6

    A boy child identified as Ismail Muhammad has been killed by Nigerian military enforcing a curfew in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Kaduna government on Monday imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria Metropolitan Cities after the protesters turned violent.

    In a statement, the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the measure was taken in the interest of peace.

    The statement reads; “The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani, following a review of the security situation in the State, hereby notifies citizens of the following:”

    “There is sufficient evidence to clearly indicate that the ongoing protest has been hijacked by criminal elements who have resorted to looting of shops and destruction of private and public property.

    “In view of this unfortunate development, the Kaduna State Security Council has unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria Metropolises and environs with immediate effect“

    This is as a result of the protest which went awry in some parts of state, as looting and destruction of both public and private enterprises becomes the order of the day.”

    However, in the video shared on social media, the deceased child could be seen lifeless on the streets as security operatives enforcing curfew in the state hover in the background.

    Another video captured the family of the young child wailing uncontrollably over the avoidable death of their beloved. 

  • Family of killed protester demand justice as police deny playing any role in his death

    Family of killed protester demand justice as police deny playing any role in his death

    The family of a 24-year-old tailor, Abubakar Adam Abdullahi, is demanding justice after accusing police of killing him in Kaduna during nationwide protests.

    Police has denied playing any role in Abubakar’s death, and a spokesman for the governor of Kaduna state said they are not aware of any deaths resulting from protests.

    This is contested by rights group Amnesty International which said three people have been killed in Kaduna alone.

    Speaking on behalf of the family, Abubakar’s brother Ismail told BBC that tailor was shot in the chest by police on Thursday before dying in Yusuf Dantsoho hospital.

    “All we want is justice for our brother,” says Ismail.

    “As a tailor, money for the materials he was using had all gone up – food too – and he also has to pay increased rent. Everyone is affected by this economic crisis,” says Ismail.

    Video footage filmed at the time of Abubakar’s death seems to shows him in a group of young men shouting animatedly at police before trying to run away as if being chased.

    Kaduna state governor spokesman Mohammed Lawal Shehu said the reason why they have not acknowledged any death from the protest is because they are relying on the police – who say they were no deaths.

    “According to the police there wasn’t any death from the protests and we rely on them for information.”

    Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into the deaths of 23 protesters it said have been killed across the country, including three in Kaduna.

    Ismail says his family will not rest until they get answers about his brother’s death.

    “He was in high spirits when he went out with his friends to the protest. He was concerned by the state of things in the country.”

  • Viral video: Police deny armoured vehicle hijacked

    Viral video: Police deny armoured vehicle hijacked

    The Police Command in Kaduna State has debunked the rumour that its Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was  hijacked by protesters in the State.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, debunked the rumour in a statement issued in Kaduna.

    Hassan stated: “The  cCommand wishes to address the recent video circulating on social media, alleging that an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was hijacked by the protesters.

    “The command wishes to debunk this rumor and provide the public with the correct details of the incident.”

    Hassan said the video in question depicted a situation where the driver of the APC was confronted by a large group of protesters.

    “In the face of escalating tension, the driver made a professional and commendable decision to avoid the use of live ammunition.

    “Instead, he employed a tactical maneuver to safely escape the scene, ensuring the safety of both the protesters and the officers involved.

    “It is important to stress that at no point was the APC hijacked by hoodlums,”he said.

    According to him,  the vehicle and its personnel remained under the control of the command throughout the incident.

    He said the Commissioner of Police (CP), Audu Dabigi, has urged the good people of the state to continue to abide by the law, maintain peace and order.

    “We appreciate the support and cooperation of the public in these challenging times and remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents, “Hassan said.