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Tag: Kaduna

  • Insecurity: I feel you pains, losses, fears; El-Rufai tells Kaduna residents

    Insecurity: I feel you pains, losses, fears; El-Rufai tells Kaduna residents

    Gov. Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state said on Tuesday that he was deeply worried by the hardship of the people occasioned by the security challenges in the state.

    In his remarks during the presentation of the Kaduna State Security Incidents Report for the Second Quarter of 2021, the governor said the security report presented had sobering statistics on the state of security in the state.

    “The data on security incidents in the state during the second quarter of 2021 reflects the real agony of our citizens and communities, their pains and losses, and the fears and anxiety that have created considerable distress” he said .

    He noted that the report also outlined what the Kaduna State Government and the security agencies were doing to contain the situation.

    El-Rufai however lamented that the considerable investments in security were yet to manifest in the defeat, or at least the considerable degradation of the criminals.

    He reiterated his administration’s commitment to continue supporting security agencies, just as he appealed for the support of Federal Government in making up the manpower deficit in the security sector.

    He appealed to citizens and residents of Kaduna State, to remain law-abiding, and to uphold peace in their communities.

    He specifically urged community and traditional leaders in Zangon Kataf and Jema’a Local Government Areas, not to relent in their drive for peace.

    He sympathised with the people and security agents for all the pains and sorrow caused by the situation.

    ” I assure you that we are working hard to solve this problem and it is our solemn duty to do so,” he pledged

  • Insecurity: Only two out of 23 LGs safe from bandits attacks in Kaduna – Shehu Sani

    Insecurity: Only two out of 23 LGs safe from bandits attacks in Kaduna – Shehu Sani

    …says people are kidnapped and killed daily
    …bandits even give notification to communities
    By Emman Ovuakporie
    Kaduna State Frontline politician, Senator Shehu Sani has said only Kaduna South and Kaduna North is safe out of 23 Local Government areas in the bandit ridden state.
    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the former Senator while appearing on national Television programme monitored by TNG on Monday.
    According to Senator Sani the situation is fast getting out of control as on a daily basis people are kidnapped and killed, some cases are not even reported in the media.
    He said: “they even send notification before raiding communities and they ensure the raid is carried out either a day before the notice deadline or the date of the deadline and Kaduna unfortunately has the highest number of military institutions in Nigeria.
    “Despite the heavy presence of the military here nothing is being, all the bandits do is to block major roads with their cattle and cause havoc.
    “In most cases when they raid communities the come with motor bikes numbering over 200 to ensure they capture their victims.
    “But nothing is being done to checkmate these bandits who operate with China made motor bikes and carrying AK47 to harass, kidnap and kill innocent people.
    Sani explained that” I visited parents of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist Academy because they were my constituents when I was in the Senate but what’s baffling me is that elected officers don’t even visit victims of the bandits to even commiserate with them.
    “Parents now accompany their children to schools in Kaduna and patiently wait till the school closes and take their children home, it’s that bad.
  • Declare state of emergency in Kaduna before bandits kidnap all residents under El-Rufai’s watch – MBF begs Buhari

    Declare state of emergency in Kaduna before bandits kidnap all residents under El-Rufai’s watch – MBF begs Buhari

    The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) on Sunday took a swipe at Governor Nasir El-Rufai for allegedly allowing the insecurity in the state to fester while he does nothing to savage the situation.

    It, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency in Kaduna State.

    MBF accused the governor of making utterances that encourage bandits to intensify abductions in the state.

    “More than any time, Governor el-Rufai has continued to provoke bandits through unguarded utterances that have further enraged them to unleash more terror attacks on various communities,” the forum said in a statement by its National President, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.

    The group stated that despite El-Rufai’s refusal to negotiate with kidnappers: “he has also not done anything to secure these weak communities against further attacks by bandits.”

    “Arising from the glaring failures by Governor el-Rufai to protect lives and property, we are calling on President Buhari to declare a state of emergency on Kaduna State as the governor has shown gross incapacity to maintain peace,” the MBF added.

    Besides, it called on security forces to collaborate with vigilante groups in the attacked communities to track down the bandits that have “declared war on the people.”

    The forum said the most disturbing was the recent abduction of over 120 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi and the attitude of el-Rufai towards ending the security challenges facing the state.

    The the statement added: ”Most disturbing is the recent abduction of students of Bethel Baptist High School in Damishi which is located on the outskirts of Kaduna. These minors are still being held captive in the forest with no food, shelter or medication.

    “This new wave of attacking schools by the bandits appears to be in the agenda of Boko Haram and is aimed at frustrating the education of future generations upon whose shoulders lie the future greatness of our nation.

    “The most worrisome is the attitude of Governor El-Rufai towards tackling the security challenges confronting the state. Communities across various local government areas in the state have come under unending severe attacks resulting in gruesome massacres, raping of women, destruction of property, incessant kidnappings made worse by huge payments of ransom to secure release of abducted persons and displacement of thousands of people out of their homelands.

    “More worrisome is the fact that attacks by these killer herdsmen and kidnappers on defenceless communities have led to massive displacement of people from their ancestral lands, thereby creating a catastrophic humanitarian crisis situation and rendering farmers unable to access their farmlands for agricultural activities.

    “Current attacks on schools have also led to the withdrawal of pupils and students from schools or outright closure of such schools. The negative consequences of these on education and food security can only be imagined.

    “On the other hand, kidnappers have taken over all the routes linking Kaduna State to other parts of the country where they have continued to unleash terror on road users.”

  • Gunmen kidnap woman, three children in Kaduna

    Gunmen kidnap woman, three children in Kaduna

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a woman and her three kids in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The bandits according to eyewitnesses, stormed the town Milgoma opposite the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) in Shika, Zaria, on Friday.

    They broke into the house of the woman through the gate, and thereafter, took the woman and her three children away to an unknown destination.

    While the Police authorities are yet to confirm the incident, locals said the bandits came through a village called ‘Nasarawan Buhari’ and later went away with the four victims through another village called ‘Biye’.

    The woman’s husband, who is a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsima in Katsina State was not around when the incident occurred, but a resident of the community said some members of a local vigilante were able to repel the bandits from taking away more people.

  • Kaduna seals four Fidelity Bank branches over N43.3m tax liabilities

    Kaduna seals four Fidelity Bank branches over N43.3m tax liabilities

    The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service has sealed four branches of Fidelity Bank in the state for tax Liabilities amounting to N43.3 million.

    The branches are located at Ali Akilu Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, Polytechnic Road by Maimuna Gwarzo Junction, and Kachia Road, all in Kaduna metropolis.

    The Executive Chairman of the Revenue service, Zaid Abubakar, said the bank’s branches were closed based on a court order after the bank refused to settle outstanding tax returns of N43.3 million owed the state government from 2011 to 2020.

    According to her, the action taken against the bank is in line with Section (3) and (4) of the personal income tax Amendment Act 2011 and Section 37 (3l and (4) of Kaduna state Tax Codification And Consolidation Law, 2020 as amended.

    She said the management of the bank was served with notices of the tax assessment five times, but the notices were ignored.

    The move is part of efforts by the state government to encourage voluntary settlement of all tax liabilities by taxpayers.

  • Days after mass school kidnap, bandits abduct 14 persons in another Kaduna community

    Days after mass school kidnap, bandits abduct 14 persons in another Kaduna community

    At least 14 people have been kidnapped following an attack by bandits at Ungwan Matari within the Sabon Tasha, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Among the victims were a landlord and some of his tenants.

    The bandits were said to have invaded the community which is adjoining Gbagyi villa towards Romi River at about 11pm on Wednesday night.

    Upon their arrival, the marauders started shooting sporadically, breaking fences and windows in a bid to gain access into the houses of the residents they kidnapped.

    This attack is coming barely three days after over 121 students of Bethel Baptist School also in Chikun local government area were abducted by bandits.

    Although police authorities are yet to confirm the latest incident, the immediate past Chairman of Chikun local government area, Samaila Leeman said a total of 14 members of the community were abducted by the kidnappers and taken away to an unknown destination.

    He said the bandits upon arriving in the community, started shooting to scare the residents before they later moved to some houses and kidnapped certain persons.

  • Fresh kidnappings in Kaduna show Buhari has lost grip of leadership – CAN

    Fresh kidnappings in Kaduna show Buhari has lost grip of leadership – CAN

    The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has lost grip of leadership of the country over the rising spate of mass abductions of secondary and tertiary institution students.

    CAN President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle in a statement issued in Abuja while reacting to the recent kidnapping of over 180 students of Baptist Bethel College in Kaduna State expressed shock and condemned the act.

    Ayokunle advised Buhari to seek foreign assistance before it’s too late.

    He said it is obvious that security operatives are overwhelmed.

    Ayokunle said: “As it is gradually becoming a norm in Nigeria, Nigerians were yet again taken by surprise to read about the news of the 180 innocent pupils of Bethel Baptist College, Kaduna who were kidnapped by the notorious Boko Haram Terrorists or bandits on Monday 5th July 2021.

    “These are children of innocent Nigerians who left the confines of their parents in pursuit of education and a better tomorrow.

    “According to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the welfare and the security of all Nigerian citizens is the primary responsibility of the government.

    “That President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has indeed lost grip on the leadership of this nation, especially his inability to provide security for citizens of this nation. He should therefore seek foreign assistance before it is too late.”

    CAN said that a government has no business shaking hands, attending international fora, sending emissaries to other countries and commissioning projects when the lives of an average citizen of its own country is at stake.

    “It is a sin and a crime against humanity to have zero regard for the lives of others or be unable to provide security for citizens,” CAN said.

    The CAN boss said kidnapping and abduction are now a thriving business in Nigeria and is almost becoming synonymous with the leadership of Buhari.

    “Whereas, provision of adequate security for all Nigerian citizens was one of the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in the 2015/2019 general elections and the major reason people voted for him was being an ex-military man, the administration has failed woefully to keep a campaign promise.

    “The former administration of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was severely criticized by our present leaders for inability to curb the activities of Boko Haram, but today we are not only being harassed by Boko Haram and Islamic State of West African Province (who recently appointed their own governor for Borno State) we are terribly traumatized by bandits, kidnappers and other criminals.

    “Nigeria is no longer a safe haven. It has gradually become a den of kidnappers and other criminals who are operating almost unchecked. It is obvious that the security operatives are overwhelmed,” CAN said.

    While condemning the abduction of the school children, CAN, called on international communities to come to the aid of Nigeria as they did in Syria: “because it appears that our leaders are incapacitated and are not humble enough to admit failure. They are unwilling to seek help.

    “Furthermore, the situation in Kaduna has become quite terrible because of the uncouth, unbridled and acidic statements credited to the state Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai who appears to be talking too much than acting! Nigeria, a land once flowing with milk and honey has become a wasteland and a land that is devouring its inhabitants in the hands of this present leadership.

    “On the other hand, it is quite appalling that while some people are working hard to climb the ladder of success and greatness through hard work, some crazy criminals make up their minds to be making a living from kidnapping and murder of their fellow human beings.

    “These have turned themselves to beasts amidst us, thus causing pain and sending many to early graves. We plead with them to repent of this evil because they will never escape the judgement of God and that, very soon. For God’s sake, what evil did these students they kidnapped do against them?” CAN added.

    Ayokunle appealed to Buhari and all the newly appointed service chiefs to, as a matter of urgency and priority, rise up to the situation as nobody is to take responsibility in the first instance than them.

    He urged the Service Chiefs to improve on intelligence gathering as a matter of priority and provide employment to make recruitment of young Nigerians into criminality unpopular any longer.

    Ayokunle warned that: “The story of these 140 innocent pupils of Bethel Baptist College, Kaduna must not be like the story of Chibok Girls who are still missing till date despite plummeted boast and blank promises by the present administration in 2015 to recover them if they win the election”.

    CAN prayed that: “President Muhammadu Buhari must ensure a safe return and reunion of all the 140 innocent pupils of Bethel Baptist College, Kaduna to their families and others in captivity.

    “That President Muhammadu Buhari should summon all the security chiefs and cause them to explain why the criminals are operating with ease in Nigeria without being brought to book.

    “That President Muhammadu Buhari should caution His Excellency, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai from talking more than acting.”

  • BREAKING: Parents of Abducted Students of Bethel Baptist High School Block Entrance to Kaduna

    BREAKING: Parents of Abducted Students of Bethel Baptist High School Block Entrance to Kaduna

    1. Parents and loved ones of the just kidnapped students of the Bethel Baptist High School have begun protest for the immediate release of their children by kidnappers.

    Some bandits stormed the school in the wee hours of today kidnapping not fewer than one hundred and twenty six students.

    The aggrieved parents and loved ones have since blocked the Mararaba Rido road, a major entrance to the state Capital from southern Kaduna, Plateau and Nassarawa states.

    Details soon…

  • BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap scores of students in Bethel School, Kaduna

    BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap scores of students in Bethel School, Kaduna

    Suspected bandits, on Monday morning, invaded Bethel Secondary School, Maramara Chickun Local Government Area of Kaduna State and kidnapped scores of students.

    Bethel Secondary School is a boarding school located at the outskirts of Kaduna.

    According to Mr. Daniel Muhuta, a security guard in the school, “I escaped narrowly. They came around 1.00am and started shooting. I was at the back of the school dormitory when I heard shooting and decided to pin down.”

    As of the time of filling this report, security personnel have cordoned off the area, even as parents and relatives of the kidnapped students gathered at the main entrance in a sorrowful mood.

     

    Details later…..

  • How football-playing adolescents detonated explosives that caused Kaduna explosion

    How football-playing adolescents detonated explosives that caused Kaduna explosion

    The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was detonated in Kaduna Saturday, was concealed in three empty yogurt containers, the police revealed on Sunday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Saturday incident, which occurred in badarawa area of Kaduna metropolis, resulted in the death of one adolescent child, aged seven and the injury of two others, aged nine and seven.

    Giving an update on the incident, spokesperson of Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said Improvised Explosive Device were concealed in three bottles of popular children’s Juice (Viju Milk).

    “Three Children picked up the bottles but unknown to them, they contained explosive substance; the children started playing football with the bottles, as a result two of the bottles exploded,injuring the three children.

    The victims were however rushed to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital for treatment, where one of them died owing to injuries he sustained from the explosion.

    “One of the victim was treated and discharged, while the third child is still receiving treatment.

    “The Command’s Explosive Ordinance Department (EOD) is carrying out a holistic forensic analysis of the device with a view to apprehending those responsible for this heinous act,” he said.