TheNewsGuru

Tag: Katsina

  • 11 persons abducted by gunmen in Katsina community

    11 persons abducted by gunmen in Katsina community

    Eleven indigenes, mostly elderly women have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen at Shinfida Village in Jibia Local Government Area of ​​Katsina State.

    They were kidnapped on their way to join other residents who earlier ran to a refugee camp for safety after their village came under attack by a group of gunmen suspected to be bandits.

    Sources revealed in a telephone interview on Saturday that the assailants invaded the village last night.

    According to the source, those kidnapped virtually lack the capacity to leave at the time most residents fled to safety due to their physical strength and some health conditions.

    He recounted that having carried out the invasion on Friday night, the assailants planned to set the entire village of Shinfida on fire at about 7am on Saturday.

    The source called on the relevant authorities to come to the aid of the people, including sending security personnel to the village to protect the residents and salvage what could be left of their properties.

  • Gov Massari can never order arrest of any journalist – Cttee of friends

    Gov Massari can never order arrest of any journalist – Cttee of friends

    The committee of friends to Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Massari on Monday said he is too polished to have ordered the arrest of any journalist.

    The committee under the aegis of Katsina Massari Friends Adffair, KEMFAD, in a statement condemned the story linking him to an arrest the governor never ordered.

    “They argued that as a speaker of the House of Representatives, Massari’s media were given golden attention as they lived in free houses throughout his tenure as a speaker.

    “How can such a media friendly man of his calibre be involved in such matters, particularly now that he is combating insecurity headlong in Katsina state.

    “In all his life as a public servant, there has been no occasion he was rude to those who worked with me or related with me in all ramifications of life talkless of ordering arrest of a journalist he never met.

    Recall that the social media was agog with stories that the governor had ordered the arrest of a Summit Post newspaper reporter.

  • Banditry: Pray, buy guns to defend yourselves, Katsina governor tells residents

    Banditry: Pray, buy guns to defend yourselves, Katsina governor tells residents

    The Katsina State Government has asked residents to do whatever it takes including prayer or even having to acquire arms to defend themselves against criminals.

    He also promised to assist security agencies in registering all the weapons illegally acquired by some of the good residents of the state.

    “Anyone interested in acquiring arms should do so as it’s not right for bad elements to acquire arms while good people are denied this right,” he said.

    Speaking during a press briefing at the Government House in Katsina on Tuesday, the governor also urged the people to support the efforts by security agencies to provide security in the communities.

  • Buhari dispatches security, intelligence heads to Sokoto, Katsina States over incessant attacks, killings

    Buhari dispatches security, intelligence heads to Sokoto, Katsina States over incessant attacks, killings

    President Muhammadu Buhari Friday dispatched a high-level delegation, made up of the heads of the nation’s intelligence and security services to Sokoto and Katsina States in response to the recent spike in bandit activities.

    According to senior special media aide, Garba Shehu, the president is expecting an immediate situation report and recommendations on actions to follow to effectively deal with the worrying situation.

    The delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Munguno (Rtd) is made up of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, the Director-General of the DSS Yusuf Magaji Bichi, the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar and the Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General Samuel Adebayo.

    The president’s latest action was prompted by the recent gruesome killing of several travelers in Sokoto and the assassination of a commissioner in Katsina State.

    President Buhari in an earlier statement expressed sadness and condemned the killings saying it shows that the evil his administration is confronting is one that requires the support and involvement of all Nigerians.

    He extended deep condolences to the families of the victims, assuring Nigerians that security agencies would continue to give their all to bring to an end the operations of the criminals.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen assassinate serving Commissioner in Buhari’s Katsina

    JUST IN: Gunmen assassinate serving Commissioner in Buhari’s Katsina

    The Katsina State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Rabe Nasir, has been killed by gunmen.

    A top government official confirmed the development on Thursday.

    According to the source, the commissioner was assassinated on Wednesday night in his residence located at GRA along Daura Road in the state capital.

    He said security operatives had after the incident taken over the residence.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Sanusi Buba confirmed the incident on Thursday while addressing journalists.

    While noting that the deceased was killed last night after returning home, the police commissioner said that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident.

    According to the police boss, the State Police Command has begun investigating the killing of the Commissioner.

    He equally explained that the commissioner’s corpse has been evacuated to the Federal Medical Center Katsina.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is from Daura town in Katsina State.

  • Bandits kill 13, injure 11 in another attack on Katsina communities

    Bandits kill 13, injure 11 in another attack on Katsina communities

    At least 11 people have been killed after bandits in their numbers, armed with sophisticated weapons, attacked several communities in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    Witnesses told newsmen that upon their arrival late on Tuesday night, the bandits shot sporadically into the air before going house by house in search of their victims.

    The bandits are said to have operated in not less than five villages within the council.

    Locals say, during the night raid, 13 people were also injured and several houses burnt down as the bandits operated from dusk till the wee hours of Wednesday.

    Confirming the incident, police authorities in the state disclosed that the communities attacked included Katoge and Yanturaku.

    Police Spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, in a statement noted that the gunmen came recklessly wielding AK-47 rifles.

    He further stated that the force has deployed a deputy commissioner in charge of operations alongside additional units of mobile police operatives to beef up security within the area.

    Those killed in last night’s attacks were buried today in Batsari town in line with Islamic rites.

  • Customs official shoots 35-year-old man in Katsina

    Customs official shoots 35-year-old man in Katsina

    The Katsina State Police Command has confirmed the shooting of a man by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service.

    Police Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, said efforts are in top gear to identify the erring officers and bring them to justice.

    While noting that the Commissioner of Police in the state has called for calm in the affected community, he asked residents to go about their lawful businesses.

    According to him, the police authorities are working closely with the leadership of the Customs with a view to resolving the problem and bringing perpetrators to book.

    The incident occurred when Customs operatives stormed Fadi Gurje village in Mani Local Government Area of the state inside a patrol vehicle.

    They were said to have fired several gun shots into the air.

    In the process, a 35-year-old man identified as Auwal Sani was shot on the leg and was rushed to Orthopaedic Hospital in Katsina for treatment.

    TheNewsGuru,TNG reports that this is not the first time Customs operatives have shot at civilians in the north-western state.

    On September 7, officers of the service shot the convoy of the Katsina State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ya’u Umar Gwajo-Gwajo while leaving his hometown, Mai’adua in Daura Local Government Area.

    Similarly in August, 10 people were killed and several others injured after officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in their numbers rammed into a gathering while pursuing a suspected rice smuggler in Jibia town, Katsina State.

    Reacting to the tragic incident, Governor Aminu Masari had in reaction threatened to sue the service over the killing of the victims.

    The governor also demanded that the victims were compensated with the erring officers prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

  • Bandits kill 10, wound many others in fresh Katsina attack

    Bandits kill 10, wound many others in fresh Katsina attack

    Bandits on Tuesday evening killed 10 people and injured 11 others in Yasore village, Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    The bandits were also said to have looted several houses in the village during which they stole money, phones, clothes, foodstuff and other personal items.

    Residents said the assailants also rustled several domestic animals after they had set ablaze scores of houses and food barns.

    It was learnt that the bandits, who were armed with sophisticated weapons, swooped on the village on motorcycles at about 6.30pm. They were said to be on a reprisal attack.

    Residents said that the bandits operated for several hours before they left the village because the telecommunication shutdown in the council prevented residents from seeking early assistance from security agencies.

    Although residents said 16 people were killed in the operation, the Police put the figures of the dead at 10.
    .
    It was further learnt that the dead were buried on Wednesday morning.

    A visitor to the village on Wednesday described the situation there as “sympathetic,” as he claimed that youths were seen preparing graves for the burial of the victims, while many residents were said to be bemoaning the losses they had suffered in the attack.

    Spokesman for the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah, confirmed the incident but insisted that the bandits were on a revenge mission at the village.

    “The bandits were on a reprisal attack. Ten people were killed in the incident, while 11 others were injured.

    “Recently, members of Yansakai (outlaw local vigilante) have been going round the community, killing the Fulani and the bandits went there on a revenge mission.

    “It is unfortunate. Any member of Yansakai caught henceforth would be treated as bandits. Yansakai remains outlawed in the state,” Isah said.

  • Insecurity: Allow us tackle bandits, Katsina female hunters beg Gov Masari

    Insecurity: Allow us tackle bandits, Katsina female hunters beg Gov Masari

    The Nigeria Hunters Council (NHC), Katsina State Chapter have indicated their interest to fight bandits if they are allowed.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the women gave their readiness to assist Katsina State government in the fight against bandits during a courtsey call to the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa in Katsina

    The Assistant Commandant General of the Hunters Council in the State,
    Hajiya Ummah Dauda, in her address noted that they are warriors group who knows the forest terrain and were ready to sacrifice their lives for banditry, killing and hostage taking to end in Katsina.

    According to her,as hunters, we know the forest very well and the truth is we are in a better position to help the government in fighting bandits. Besides, our members are well fortified and bullets cannot penetrate us. We are trained warriors, and fighters.

    Hajia Ummah pleaded with the State government to carry the hunters along in their effort to tame the menace of banditry in the State, adding that the numerical strength of experienced hunters in some LGAs are well above hundred hunters.

    “Some of our members here single-handedly arrested bandits in the past and handed them to security operatives.

    “Sir, with the kind permission of the state government, we are ready to hit the forest and fish out these bandits even right now.”

    The ACG called on Governor Aminu Bello Masari to avail the Hunters a
    Council office accommodation for effective coordination of their activities.

  • 300-level student kidnaps five-year old boy, demands N5m

    300-level student kidnaps five-year old boy, demands N5m

    Two suspects, one of them a 300-level student at a university in Katsina, have been arrested by the Katsina Police Command for the kidnap of a five-year old boy.

    The police gave the names of the suspects as Aliyu Ibrahim and Abdulrahman Abdullahi, both of the Dutsin-ma Local Government Area of the state.

    The suspects, who were paraded at the Katsina State Police Command headquarters on Thursday, were alleged to have kidnapped the five year old boy and demanded N5m ransom.

    The spokesman for the Katsina command, SP Gambo Isah, said the boy’s father refused to pay the ransom but reported the incident to the police.

    The police arrested the men the boy’s grandfather revealed that he saw him with one of the suspects.

    “The two suspects have confessed to the crime. The boy is one of the suspects’ cousin. Investigation is ongoing,” the police spokesman added.

    He added that the police arrested other suspected criminals and repelled bandit attacks