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Tag: Kaduna

  • Sheikh Gumi opens school for bandits in Kaduna forest

    Sheikh Gumi opens school for bandits in Kaduna forest

    Kaduna based Islamic Scholar Sheikh (Dr) Ahmad Gumi has built schools for herdsmen in Kaduna forests as part of measures to curb banditry and general insecurity.

    Gumi said that the insecurity situation in the country can become a thing of the past, saying bandits are ready to drop their arms if education opportunities and other basic amenities are provided for Fulani herdsmen at the grassroots.

    The sheikh stated this on Sunday while on an inspection tour of Sheikh Uthman Bin Fodio Centre, a school built by Sheikh Gumi funded Mosque Foundation Limited, at Kagarko Grazing Reserve near Kohoto Village in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State.

    Sheikh Gumi said if the centre, which is designed to educate herdsmen, is replicated everywhere in the country, Nigerians will live in peace, adding that, instead of spending billions on military hardware to fight the bandits, Nigeria should spend money on schools and teachers.

    The Islamic scholar stated categorically that, he had spoken with the bandits and they have expressed willingness to drop their arms and embrace peace if their children can be given education and other social amenities.

    ‘What motivated me to start this project was to solve the insecurity problem we have from the root because every crime has its perpetrators and every perpetrator is drawn from a pool; so we want to go there and dry the pool and we found out that education is the best cure,’ Gumi said.

    ‘If they are educated, they will not be doing what they are doing. So, we say we must take education to the grassroots and we embarked on the project to also be an example for others, local government, state and federal and rich individuals even cooperative societies to come together and make sure that we are directed across the forest to know what we can do to carter for nomads; it does not cost much, very little and it will help to educate them and we will live peacefully with them.

    ‘What we have here is centre containing six classrooms that can be used for primary, secondary schools and at various times you can teach all categories at all times and the place will be engaged for 24 hours because the herdsmen usually take their cattle out by 10 am and bring them back by dawn or sunset so they have 2 hours before they take their cattle away and we have 2 to 3 hours because we like to put some solar light so that they can read 8, 9, 10 in the night so that the herder can go and come back.

    ‘We have schools, we have hospital and also showing them how to grind the foliage which they can use to feed their animals, some of them don’t need to go out because those things are so cheap and farmers are throwing those things away, soon farmers will start charging for it. If we can duplicate this everywhere Nigerians will live in peace.’

    On whether or not he said Nigeria will no longer exist if bandits are declared as terrorists, he said, “It is a quotation out of context, I didn’t say there will be no Nigeria, I said if banditry now has turned into terrorism, fanatical religious terrorism which is there because Islam recognises religious terrorism so if we allow the herdsmen to turn into a religious fanatic and extremist it will not be good for us as a nation.

    herdsmen as terrorists because you are attaching it to herdsmen, you are not attaching it to an organization and if you say herdsmen are terrorist Nigeria will have a problem, the whole course will be on fire, the North South and East will be on fire and nothing will remain of Nigeria if everywhere is on fire.’

    He said, there is a lot that can be done to improve insecurity in Nigeria such as having this kind of centre instead of spending billions on hardware, let’s spend it on schools and teachers “even the bandits I have spoken with them as am speaking with you to drop down their weapons to study, so long their women and children will learn they are ready to drop their weapons, so why won’t we embrace peace” he stressed.

    Earlier while addressing the community, Dr Gumi said that though the construction of the centre is still ongoing, the three tiers of government can come in and partner on training the herdsmen on how they can be economically viable.

    ‘We want Nigerians to know that the herdsman is the most peaceful. For those that have used banditry and criminality to express their grievances, we want them to know that there is another way.

    ‘We call on the three tiers of government, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to support in bringing development to the grassroots,’ he appealed.

    In their separate speeches, Fulani chiefs of the community, Ardo Ahmed Tahiru, Imam Tafa Dahiru and Christian cleric in the community, Luka Mai Ungwar commended Sheikh Gumi for the gesture, stressing that the project has united the community and they are all full of joy.

    On arrival before proceeding to the community, Sheikh Gumi led his entourage to the Palace of the Sarki of Kagarko, 98-year-old Malam Sa’ad Abubakar where they received royal blessings.

    It was gathered that the multi-million naira centre is being solely funded by Sheikh Gumi, while the land on which it is being constructed was donated by the Sarki of Kagarko.

  • El-Rufai swears in 16 APC, 5 PDP LG chairmen in Kaduna

    El-Rufai swears in 16 APC, 5 PDP LG chairmen in Kaduna

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has charged the newly elected local government chairmen to prioritise service delivery to the people at the grassroots and look beyond partisanship in the discharge of their mandates.

    Speaking at the swearing-in of the 21 local government chairmen, El-Rufai warned them not to discriminate against those that did not vote for them.

    According to El-Rufai, the local government chairmen should not favour those who share the same ethnicity or religion as that will offend their oath of office.

    While congratulating them on their emergence from the 2021 local government elections which the state conducted using electronic voting, the governor said his administration has taken careful steps to reform the local government system for optimal performance, by addressing the capacity deficit of local government workers.

    The governor reiterated that the chairmen are now custodians of a sacred trust hence they must be fair, just and reasonable in all their dealings, decisions and interactions.

    Among the 21 new local chairmen, 16 are of the All Progressive Congress (APC) while five were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)

    Elections could not be conducted in Birnin-Gwari due to security concerns while the outcome in Jaba is still a subject of litigation.

  • Panic as bandits attack Baptist Church in Kaduna, kill two, scores abducted

    Panic as bandits attack Baptist Church in Kaduna, kill two, scores abducted

    Some gunmen on Sunday invaded the Baptist Church, Kakau Daji in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two while scores were said to have been abducted.

    The President of the Kaduna Baptist Convention, Rev. Ishaya Jangado, confirmed the incident but noted that the exact number of those abducted had yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

    “The incident occurred this morning but we don’t know the exact number of people that were kidnapped yet,” he said.

    However, no official confirmation came too from either the state government or the police as the Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, ASP Mohammad Jalige, as at the time this report was filed.

    Chairman of the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Joseph Hayab, while reacting to the incident, said the attack was “another sad story of how deteriorating our insecurity has become.”

    “These evil people have troubled us for too long.

    “I condole with the families of the Baptist denomination and Kaduna Christians for these losses and urge our security agencies to separate war against enemies of Nigerians from politics. No one knows who will be the next target.”

  • Bandits kidnap 9 Kaduna villagers, demand N50m

    Bandits kidnap 9 Kaduna villagers, demand N50m

    Bandits struck at Dangilmi community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where they abducted 9 villagers.

    While confirming the incident, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) in Kaduna state, Rev Joseph John Hayab,said the bandits had demanded for a N50 million ransom on the abductees.

    The affected community is not far from the Bethel Baptist High School where over a hundred students were abducted in July, 2021.

    According to Rev Hayab, “they were abducted close to jakaranda and the bandits are demanding for N50 million ‎. Yesterday ,Friday, I got calls from the villagers and even their leaders and I told them what can we do in such a situation.”

    “So today ,Saturday, I had to call the leaders of our churches and the school management not to have anything to do with that premises for now. This is because we will look stupid if the bandits return to the area and abducted someone,” he said

  • Four killed, others injured in bloody clash between villagers, herdsmen in Kaduna community

    Four killed, others injured in bloody clash between villagers, herdsmen in Kaduna community

    At least four people have been killed and three others injured following a bloody clash between some locals and herders in Kaduna State.

    According to reports by the military and police authorities, the clash occurred along some cattle routes in Jankasa village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of the state.

    It later escalated into a firefight between the two groups before security forces arrived to bring the situation under control.

    The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna, Samuel Aruwan, also confirmed the number of those killed in the clash on Monday.

    He added that the injured persons have been taken to a hospital where they were treated.

    Following the incident, a group of armed men attacked some settled herders at Manchok in Kaura Local Government Area, in what security agencies said was an apparent reprisal.

    Aruwan stated that 13 cows were killed so far, but troops recovered 25 others in the area. While no human casualty was reported, authorities said the security operatives would continue with their search operations.

    Receiving the report of the clash, Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the incident and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.

    He also condoled with their families who lost their loved ones, saying the incident was a sad one at a time when the government was working hard to restore stability to all parts of the state.

    The governor appealed to members of the affected community and residents of Kaduna to uphold lawful actions over violent conduct at all times.

    Zangon Kataf has been in the news lately for attacks – mostly by unidentified groups – which have left many dead.

    On August 27, at least three persons lost their lives in separate attacks by gunmen, with several others injured in Machun and Manuka villages.

    This followed the killing of five persons in Zangon Kataf earlier in August.

    The assailants were said to have invaded the two villages and started shooting sporadically and in the process, killed three residents while several others were injured.

  • JUST IN: Controversies as police refute senator’s claim ‘Terrorists’ attacked Abuja-Kaduna train

    JUST IN: Controversies as police refute senator’s claim ‘Terrorists’ attacked Abuja-Kaduna train

    The Kaduna State police command has debunked reports claiming that “terrorists” attacked a train along the Abuja-Kaduna rail track on Wednesday night.

    Senator Shehu Sani, who represented the Kaduna Central senatorial district in the 8th Senate, had claimed that the alleged terrorists “attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive and opened fire on the train”.

    But speaking to newsmen on Thursday, the state’s police spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige, denied the senator’s claim.

    “That is not true, the command is not aware of anything. The train was faulty yesterday on its way coming from Abuja to Kaduna which caused a delay in people’s arrival time.

    “They were no any explosives denoted; there was no any attack,” Jalige told our correspondent in a phone conversation.

    Senator Sani had posted a video of the supposed train that was attacked on his Twitter account.

    “Yesterday, terrorists attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive & opened fire on the train, targeting the Engine Driver & the Tank.

    “This morning, I was on board when our train ran over another explosive damaged rail track. it took a miracle for us to escape,” he tweeted.

  • El-Rufai gives reasons for creating 3 metropolitan authorities

    El-Rufai gives reasons for creating 3 metropolitan authorities

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has given reasons why he created three metropolitan authorities outside the conventional local government administration.

    The announcement of Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan metropolitan authorities by the governor had generated varied reactions, with some residents condemning the action.

    El-Rufai gave the explanation at the swearing in of administrators for the metropolitan authorities, two High Court judges and other officials on Friday in Kaduna.

    According to him, the new entities will ease the administration of the three cities to enhance services to the public.

    He said that the three cities would be administered based on Abuja model, as single, integrated entities.

    “Abuja is perhaps the only city in Nigeria managed as an integrated unit, despite the existence of six area councils within the Federal Capital Territory.

    “The administrators of our metropolitan authorities are similar to the Minister of the FCT to whom everyone knows the president has delegated the powers to run the nation’s capital as a single entity.

    “Our metropolitan administrators in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria will exercise similar powers and responsibilities in their designated areas as the Minister of the FCT does in Abuja.

    “Many city needs do not recognise local government boundaries. One example is a functional drainage system.

    “The job of a managing a city requires clarity as to in whom the responsibility is vested. In many cases, neither the state government nor the local government councils in that space try to exercise responsibility for cities.

    “Other jurisdictions have mayors so that there is a structure devoted to managing specific cities.

    “We cannot neglect our cities and expect them to do well on autopilot. This is why we are doing what we are doing.”

    The governor explained that in spite of the
    establishment of the metropolitan authorities, the local councils will still perform many important functions.

    “The local government councils still have a lot to do in managing primary education, primary health care, agriculture, community development, and other other constitutionally vested functions.

    “A majority of the residents of our state now live in cities. We have to be pragmatic about how we deliver better services and make our cities better places to live and work.

    “Our urban renewal programme is a vivid demonstration of the importance of treating and managing cities as single, integrated entities,” he stressed.

    On the newly sworn-in officials, El-Rufai said their appointments was to ensure that the government delivers on its mandate.

    “We intend to finish as strong as we started, this explains why we are still introducing reforms, backing them up with laws and implementing them,” he said

    According to him, the government is creating strong platforms where the next governor can focus on governance in the attainment of progressive goals.

    He also said that the new high court judges would assist in quick dispensation of justice in the state.

    El-Rufai said that the administration would continue to give priority in the remaining months of its mandate to human capital development, education, healthcare, infrastructure investment and job creation.

    NAN reports that Abdulkarim Mahmud and Eugine Michael were sworn-in as High Court judges, with Muhammad Hafiz-Bayero, as Administrator, Kaduna Capital Territory; Phoebe Sukai Yayi, Kafanchan Municipal Authority.

    Umma Aboki was sworn-in as Permanent Secretary, Planning and Budget Commission and Murtala Dabo, Executive Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, and Abubakar Hassan, Contributory Health Management Authority.

    Tamar Nandul, took oath of authority as Managing Director, Kaduna Markets Development and Management Company; Khalil Nur Khalil, Executive Secretary, Investment Promotion Agency and Maimunatu Abubakar, General Manager, State Environmental Protection Agency.

    Others are, Prof. Mohammed Sani, Chairman, Local Government Service Board; Muhammed Muqaddas, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Authority and Dr Shuaibu Aliyu, Permanent Secretary.
    The rest were, Dr Ishaya Habu, Chairman, Legislative Service Commission, while Aminu Musa, Rabiu Tanko and Rebecca Barde will serve as members. (

  • Why I tested, sacked teachers in Kaduna despite threats of losing re-election – El-Rufai

    Why I tested, sacked teachers in Kaduna despite threats of losing re-election – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has explained how he was willing to sacrifice his second term ambition in order to give children from his state quality education.

    The governor sought re-election for a second term in office in the 2019 general elections and has two more years to complete his tenure.

    Speaking during the Ekiti State’s Fountain Summit 2021 with the theme ‘Investment Attractiveness and Economic Development in Ekiti State’ which held in Ado-Ekiti, El-Rufai said he was threatened with an election loss.

    El-Rufai said he insisted and eventually carried out the test on teachers in Kaduna notwithstanding the threat.

    “My brother here was said to have lost his second term bid the first time because he threatened to test teachers,” he said.

    “I tested them and fired them before our election. When I was asked that I would lose the second term, I said if losing second term in office will give Kaduna State children a future with better primary education, I am ready to let it go.”

    El-Rufai also listed two factors that enabled him retain his position as Kaduna governor, noting that he timed the mandatory test for teachers within his first two years in office and that the exercise was carried out honestly without partisan politics.

    While noting that he attended government schools in his life until he went for his second degree, El-Rufai noted that his administration sent a clear message that the poor man’s child in Kaduna was eligible to emerge as governor.

    He recalled that while sacking teachers, two of his colleagues backed his decision but expressed fear in implementing the policy in their respective states.

    According to him, the two governors who wanted to conduct teachers’ tests after their re-elections however lost their second term bids.

  • Photo: Three kidnapped students of Catholic Seminary regain freedom in Kaduna

    Photo: Three kidnapped students of Catholic Seminary regain freedom in Kaduna

    The three kidnapped students of Christ the King Major Seminary in Jemaa Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been released.

    The chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Reverend Father Emmanuel Okolo, said the three seminarians were released by their abductors on Wednesday.

    But there is no indication that any ransom was paid for their release and the police are yet to issue a statement on the development.

    While thanking God for the quick release of the seminarians, Father Okolo also prayed for the release of other kidnap victims who are still in the hands of their captors.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the three seminarians were abducted by bandits suspected to be kidnappers on Monday.

    They were, however, released barely 48 hours after their abduction.

    The abduction and release of the seminarians is one of the many kidnap cases in Kaduna and other northwestern states where banditry has become rife.

    Following the series of attacks, several states in the region had introduced a string of measures to tackle the growing wave of insecurity.

    In Kaduna State, for instance, the state government had shut telecoms services in some local governments, banned the possession of dangerous weapons and restricted the operations of tricycles among others.

    “These difficult times demand that difficult decisions be made. The measures have been adopted purely in the interest of our collective safety and security and to aid our brave forces in their fight against these mindless criminals,” Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, explained while announcing the measures late September.

    “Too many lives have been lost and too many families have been shattered. Small groups of wicked persons cannot continue to hold us to ransom and force us to live in perpetual fear.”

  • Three kidnapped Kaduna Catholic seminarians regain freedom

    Three kidnapped Kaduna Catholic seminarians regain freedom

    The three kidnapped seminarians at the Christ the King Major Seminary, St. Albert Institute, Fayit, Fadan Kagoma in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have been released.

    Bandits in large numbers had, on Monday night at about 8:00pm, invaded the Catholic institution and abducted the three seminarians who were said to be in their fourth year.

    Six others were said to have sustained injuries; they were later taken to the hospital, treated and discharged.

    But barely 48 hours after their abduction, the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, Kaduna, announced their release from the bandits’ den.

    According to a memo dated October 13, 2021 and signed by the Chancellor, Kafanchan Catholic Diocese, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okolo, “With hearts filled with joy, we raise our voices in a symphony of praises as we announce the return of our Three Major Seminarians, who were abducted by armed persons from the Chapel of the Seminary at Christ the King Major Seminary, Fayit Fadan Kagoma in Jema’a Local Government Area, Kaduna State, on Monday, 11 October, 2021.

    “Barely 48 hours after their kidnap, our beloved brothers were released by their abductors.

    “We want to thank all those that have offered prayers and entreaties for the quick release of our Seminarians and Others who are still in the dens of their kidnappers. We pray God to hasten the release of those who are still in the hands of their Captors.

    “All our Priests are directed to kindly celebrate Mass of thanksgiving to God tomorrow, Thursday 14th October 2021, for the quick and safe release of our Seminarians.

    “May Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for us and all those that are still in captivity.”

    TheNewsGuru recalls that the attack happened after the state government intensified efforts to tackle banditry across the state leading to the shutdown of telecommunication services in parts of the state and other stiffer measures such as ban on both commercial and private motorcyclists, among others.