TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kaduna

  • IPC calls for the release of two abducted journalists in Kaduna

    IPC calls for the release of two abducted journalists in Kaduna

    The International Press Centre, IPC, on Monday called for the release of two abducted journalists that were recently kidnapped in Kaduna State.

    The organization called for the release of the abducted journalists through the IPC Centre for the Safety and Protection of Journalists, I-CSPJ, calling for a concerted effort towards the immediate release of the journalists.

    The abducted journalists are Chairman of the University Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, Alhaji AbdulGafar Alabelewe and Blueprint Newspapers reporter, AbdulRaheem Aodu.

    It was gathered that they were kidnapped alongside their wives and children on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at their residence in Danhonu community, Millennium City, of Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.

    Expressing concern over the development , the IPC Executive Director, Mr Lanre Arogundade said, the high level of insecurity in the country should be of serious concern to all.

    “It is very disturbing that journalists and media practitioners have also become easy targets,” he added.

    In a statement on Monday, signed by the IPC Press Freedom Officer, Melody Akinjiyan, Arogundade enjoined the Kaduna State Government and relevant security agencies to do all they can to ensure that journalists are set free without being harmed in any way.

    Arogundade also appealed to other national, regional and international media freedom groups, freedom of expression organizations and human rights bodies to join in the clamour for the release of the two abducted journalists.

  • Health workers begin 5-day warning strike in Kaduna

    Health workers begin 5-day warning strike in Kaduna

    Health workers in Kaduna State have embarked on a five-day warning strike.

    A check by NAN in some of the public hospitals showed only doctors and laboratory technicians were on duty.

    Also, some of the patients had since been discharged from the hospitals as the Nurses were on strike and there was no one to take care of them.

    Speaking in an interview on Monday in Kaduna, Chairman, National Association of Nurses and Midwives in the state, Mr Ishaku Yakubu, said the strike was to press home some demands.

    He said there were demands given to the state government over the years that were yet to be met.

    Yakubu said, “The health workers embarked on the strike over issues that are yet to be resolved between them and the state government.

    ”The health workers have been on CONHESS salary structure since 2009.

    “We have the 2012 and 2013 versions that need to be reviewed by the state government but up till now, they have done nothing about it.”

    He said that since 2015, the state government had promised that they would increase the salary, saying, ” but up till now, nothing has been done.

    “We have been working on these for the government to do something but they approved the doctors and given them 100 per cent while we nurses are yet to receive anything from them.”

    Yakubu also said that the state government was yet to approve the 2003 hazard allowance approved by the Federal Government.

    When contacted, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry for Health, Dr Aishatu Mohamed-Saqid, said that she would officially react to the development on Tuesday.

  • Ex-NLC president kidnapped in Kaduna

    Ex-NLC president kidnapped in Kaduna

    A former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Takai Shamang has been abducted in his hometown, Biniki, in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

    Shamang, 78, was also a former President General of the National Union of Electricity and Gas Workers, now National Union of Electricity Employees between 1982 and 1989.

    Confirming the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), his daughter, Mrs Grace Abbin, said her 78-year-old father was abducted at his residence in Biniki, at about 8:00pm on Friday.

    Shamang is the President and Founder of Gantys Aid for Widows, Orphans and Needy Foundation, popularly known as GAWON Foundation.

  • Unknown gunmen abduct two journalists, family members in Kaduna

    Unknown gunmen abduct two journalists, family members in Kaduna

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be terrorists have abducted two journalists and their family members in the Danhonu community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the incident happened on Saturday night.

    The journalists are identified as a correspondent for The Nation Newspaper, Abdulgafar Alabelewe and Abduraheem Aodu of Blueprint.

    They were reportedly taken along with their relatives.

    Relatives of one of the victims reported that the terrorists stormed the community around 10:30 pm, shooting sporadically before carrying out the abductions.

    As of when this report was filed, the Police spokesperson was unreachable and has not commented on the incident.

    Details soon…

  • BREAKING: Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashes in Kaduna

    BREAKING: Nigerian Air Force helicopter crashes in Kaduna

    A helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force on Monday crashed in Tami village, located in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    According to eyewitnesses, the pilot emerged from the wreckage of the incident that occurred at approximately 5:00 am, causing significant alarm among residents.

    The helicopter, which was said to be on a routine operational flight had technical difficulties that led to the crash. Fortunately, the pilot survived after managing to execute emergency protocols effectively.

    Residents of Tami village quickly gathered at the crash site, offering assistance where possible and expressing relief that no lives were lost.

    “We heard a loud noise and rushed to the scene. We were surprised and relieved to see the pilot alive,” said a local villager who witnessed the crash.

    It was gathered that a team of military officers from the Nigerian Air Force swiftly arrived at the scene to secure the area and conduct an initial investigation.

    They cordoned off the crash site to prevent unauthorised access and to ensure the safety of the villagers. The officers also began a thorough initial investigation, conducting preliminary assessments to determine the cause of the crash, which remains unknown at this time.

  • INHUMANITY! Bandits kill negotiator after delivering N16m to free abductees in Kaduna

    INHUMANITY! Bandits kill negotiator after delivering N16m to free abductees in Kaduna

    Inhumanity taken too far as bandits operating in Kaduna State have killed a 27-year-old man named Abba after he delivered a ransom of N16 million and three motorcycles for the release of nine kidnap victims.

    A security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, in an X post on Thursday, said the abduction took place on April 16, 2024, when bandits attacked homes in Unguwar Iya and Jere, kidnapping nine residents.

    They reportedly initially demanded a N30 million ransom.

    A resident, Shuaibu Hussaini, confirmed the killing, saying the incident occurred last Saturday when Abba, who had been negotiating with the bandits, went to deliver the agreed-upon ransom to the group’s leader at a designated location in the area.

    “The bandits’ leader, after collecting the ransom and the bikes, tied the deceased with a rope and opened fire on him,” Hussaini said.

    According to him, the motive behind the killing was revealed by one of the released victims.

    “It was one of the victims who was among those released who said the bandits’ leader claimed that they decided to kill Abba for being rude to him during negotiation of the ransom.”

    The brutality of the act was further emphasised when the bandits callously informed the victim’s family about his fate.

    “It was when one of the family members of the victims tried to find out the whereabouts of Abba after delivering the ransom that the bandits’ leader asked the family to go to a particular location and pick up his corpse.

    “The death of the deceased had thrown not only Abba’s family into mourning, but Jere chiefdom as a whole,” Hussaini added.

    The Kaduna State Police Command is yet to comment on the incident.

  • Hajj: Female pilgrim passes away in Saudi

    Hajj: Female pilgrim passes away in Saudi

    A female pilgrim from Kaduna State, Hajiya Asma’u Muhammad-Ladan, has passed away at the King Fahad hospital in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday after a brief illness.

    This is contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Yunusa Muhammad-Abdullahi, issued to Newsmen in Arfat on Saturday.

    The PRO, who did not indicate her Local Government of origin, however, said that the deceased was registered at the headquarters of the agency.

    The statement said the family of the late pilgrim has been notified, adding that the management and staff of the agency commiserated with them over the death of Hajiya Asma’u.

    According to Muhamamda-Abdllajhi, Kaduna State Pilgrim Welfare agency prayed to Allah (SWT) to have mercy upon the deceased’s soul, forgive her sins and comfort her family over the irreparable loss.

  • Gunmen kidnapp Catholic Priest in Kaduna

    Gunmen kidnapp Catholic Priest in Kaduna

    Gunmen have kidnapped a Catholic priest, Gabriel Ukeh, in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Sunday.

    Ukeh is the presiding priest of St. Thomas Parish, Zaman Dabo Community, Zango Kataf LGA of Kaduna.

    While confirming the incident in a statement, the Vicar General (Pastoral), Emmanuel Kazah, condemned the incessant kidnappings for ransom of citizens in communities.

    The statement read in part: “While we solicit for fervent prayers for his urgent and safe release, we equally condemn this act of incessant kidnappings for ransom of innocent and defenceless citizens of our communities, and we call upon the government to horn its security intelligence as we approach the celebration of Sallah.

    “Through the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Priests and Religious, may Jesus the crucified hearken to our prayers and hasten the unconditional release of His Priest and every other abducted person.”

     

  • NAF airstrikes knockout terrorists’ camps in Kaduna, Katsina

    NAF airstrikes knockout terrorists’ camps in Kaduna, Katsina

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), says the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch and Hadarin Daji have eliminated terrorists’ enclaves killing scores in Kaduna and Katsina States.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, AVM Edward Gabkwet, on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said the air strikes by the Air Component of Operation Whirl Punch on terrorists’ enclave in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State between May 30 and May 31, yielded the requisite outcome.

    He said the strikes were executed at the stronghold of the infamous terrorist, Buharinyadi, situated at Bula Forest area in Giwa LGA of the state.

    The strikes, he said, prompted by painstaking Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (IRS) operations conducted in the targeted vicinity where several clusters of thatched roofed huts within compounds were observed amid thick vegetation.

    Gabkwet said the surveillance also confirmed a substantial presence of armed terrorists loitering around the huts and over 13 motorcycles seen tucked under a large umbrella tree.

    He added that a targeted exploitation of multiple sources revealed that the terrorists at the location were responsible for most of the attacks and kidnappings in several communities within Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Giwa LGAs.

    “Accordingly, the Air Component dispatched its available air assets to strike the location.

    “Overhead the location, scores of the terrorists were sighted and subsequently struck, bringing effective and maximum damage on the targets and their equipment.

    “Following a tip that some of the surviving terrorists had relocated 500 meters west of the interdicted location, a follow up strike was immediately conducted, with a post-strike Battle Damage Assessment revealing the neutralisation of several terrorists and their hideouts engulfed in flames,” he said.

    The NAF spokesman said that similar air strikes were also carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji on June 2, at Zango Hill in Kankara LGA of Katsina State.

    He said that intelligence revealed that the location which had a cluster of huts and zinc roofed structures with multiple human and livestock movements, was being used by a terrorists’ kingpin, Alhaji Iliya and his cohorts.

    Gwabket said that air interdiction was conducted over the location to decimate the terrorists, destroy their weapons and mobility.

    “After the strike, Battle Damage Assessment footages and feedback received revealed that the strikes were successful as several terrorists were eliminated and their structures engulfed in flames.

    “The NAF, in collaboration with surface forces, will continue to sustain domination of the battlespace through extensive situational awareness, constant patrols, and targeted interdiction of terrorists’ safe havens within its various Areas of Responsibility.

    “Still, a whole of society approach remains a key factor in the ongoing efforts to minimise the threats posed by criminal elements,” he said.

  • INSECURITY: Soldiers ambush, kill six terrorists in Kaduna

    INSECURITY: Soldiers ambush, kill six terrorists in Kaduna

    Troops of the Nigerian Army at the weekend killed no fewer than six terrorists during separate operations in Kaduna state.

    The troops also recovered arms and other logistics during the operations.

    This came after the military high command on Friday stated that troops deployed in the state for counter-terrorism operations arrested over 253 terrorists.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports this was contained in a statement posted on Saturday on X by the Nigerian Army, the service stated that the troops ambushed some terrorists following intelligence reports on their movements in the Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna.

    The service noted that the terrorists fled after a gun battle.

    The post read, “The troops, acting on credible intelligence on the movement of terrorist elements in Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas, swiftly mobilized to intercept the threat. The ambush operation was staged at Kidandan Junction in Giwa LGA, where the troops lay in wait and made contact with the terrorists. Following a fierce firefight, the terrorists fled, abandoning one pistol.”

    The Army also said two villages in the LGAs were cleared by troops, adding that the terrorists were trailed to another village where a terrorist scout was killed.

    “Continuing their mission, the troops moved on to clear Basurfe and Yuna villages. During this phase, they recovered one motorbike left behind by the escaping terrorists, who had crossed a nearby river valley.

    “The troops in their determination, trailed the terrorists to Katoge village, a known terrorist enclave and crossing point, where they sighted the terrorists’ scout, who was immediately eliminated, resulting in the recovery of one semi-automatic pump-action rifle, ” the post added.

    During a separate operation in Saulawa village in Birnin Gwari LGA, the service said troops sighted terrorists on motorcycles and engaged them in a gun duel.

    The Army said five of the terrorists were killed during the shootout, and some weapons were recovered from them.

    The Army said, “The operation culminated in Saulawa village in Birnin Gwari LGA, where the troops encountered several terrorists on motorbikes, leading to a ferocious exchange of fire.

    The gallant troops overwhelmed the terrorists with superior firepower, neutralising five more terrorists. The engagement also led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, one G3 rifle, and 9 motorbikes.”