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Tag: Kebbi

  • Lai Mohammed turbaned Kakakin Kebbi

    Lai Mohammed turbaned Kakakin Kebbi

    The Emir of Argungu, HRH Sumaila Mera on Sunday conferred the traditional title of Kakakin Kebbi (Cultural Ambassador of Kebbi) on the Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The turbaning which took place at the forecourt of the Palace of the Emir in Argungu town, Kebbi State was on the sideline of the 2021 World Tourism Day to be celebrated in Birnin-Kebbi on Monday

    Speaking at the event, the Emir said the title was conferred on the minister because of his “courage and strength of character in projecting the image of Nigeria locally and internationally”.

    Alhaji. Lai Mohammed in red traditional regalia shortly after his turbaning as “Kakakin Kebbi” meaning Cultural Ambassador of Kebbi by the Emir of Argungu, HRH Sumaila Mera in Argungu town of Kebbi state. Photo/NAN

    Specifically, the Emir said the emirate honoured the minister with the title as a show of appreciation for his effort in promoting the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival to attain international status

    The annual festival which attracts local and international participants and tourists was in 2017 listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

    The Emir also commended past Ministers of Culture and Tourism for their efforts in promoting the festival nationally since 1970.

    “Traditionally, Kakakin is an instrument which attracts attention. From the authority of the Emir and the entire people of the emirate, it has now been handed over to the recipient.

    “The bearer of the instrument is the trumpet of the Argungu Emirate and he will be traditionally referred to as Kakakin.

    “This gesture will be permanently recorded in the annal of our history that the minister is the Kakakin Kebbi.

    “On behalf of the entire people of the emirate, I welcome you most warmly and I want to assure you that we will involve you in all matters of importance in the emirate,” he said.

    The traditional rulers charged the minister to reciprocate the gesture by continuing to promote the cultural heritage of Kebbi and Argungu emirate in particular.

    He assured that the emirate and the country at large would benefit from the wealth of experience of the minister.

    The minister thanked the Emir and the entire people of the emirate for their affection and generosity in bestowing the honour and title of Kakakin Kebbi on him.
    “As the cultural ambassador of Kebbi, I will endeavour that we develop all the festivals in the four emirates in the state in a manner that they will be globally recognised.

    The minister said the choice of Kebbi for the 2021 celebration of the World Tourism Day was not just by coincidence but well planned and thought out.

    According to him, Kebbi state is one of the frontline cultural and tourism destinations and all the four emirates in the state have sellable cultural heritages.

    “The Argungu fishing and cultural festival is known not just in Nigeria but all over the world and I am proud to say that it is one ofe five festivals that have been ascribed intangible heritage of UNESCO.

    “The festival should not be seen from the view point of fishing and entertainment alone. rather it should be seen as a symbol of unity,” he said.

    Mohammed said the Hottungo festival in Gwandu emirate of Kebbi is celebrated annually by the Fulani tribe to thank Allah for the safe return of their cattle.

    He said the Regatta Carnival, celebrated in Yauri Emirate of Kebbi started way back as a measure for protecting bridal trains which were being attacked on the river in those days.

    The minister said the Uhola festival in Zuru Emirate is celebrated annually at the end of harvest to thank God for bountiful agricultural produce.

    “I am glad that a lot of these cultural practices have been largely modernised.
    “In particular is the practice where a prospective bridegroom have to stay seven years in the farm of a father in-law before he can be given his bride,” he said.

  • Kebbi gov backs Buhari, explains how identification of grazing routes can help end farmer/herder crisis

    Kebbi gov backs Buhari, explains how identification of grazing routes can help end farmer/herder crisis

    Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu on Thursday argued that mapping out grazing routes will help to identify the scale of the herder-farmer crisis.

    President Muhammadu Buhari recently ordered a committee to review 368 grazing sites across 25 states in the country to determine the levels of encroachment.

    Critics have faulted the President’s directive, noting that ranching is a more viable alternative to open grazing.

    But, speaking on a monitored Channels Television programme on Thursday, Bagudu said the President’s directive does not preclude the idea of ranching.

    “The committee is to identify grazing routes and work with states and map them. It is not to recover grazing routes, it is to identify the scale of the problem,” Bagudu said.

    “Mr President is interested in an audit of grazing reserves. It is a voluntary and collaborative thing with the states.

    “People say we have spoken about ranching. Yes, but what is a ranch? Ranching does not take place in the air, it takes place on a piece of land.

    “Ranches are as big as grazing reserves. In some countries like Australia, some ranches are bigger than some Nigerian states.

    “So how do you know what’s available, what can be supported to host those roving, herding communities who need help to modernise?”

    When asked why the President appeared to have taken a special interest in helping herders modernise since it is a private business, Bagudu said the issue is a “shared public interest.”

    “We have interest historically to make our farmers do better,” he said. “That’s why we have all kinds of programs and extension services, so our farmers can do better. And it is a desirable public goal.

    “So, historically, we have invested more in the farming sector, to the disadvantage of both fishing and animal husbandry.

    “We want to help them (herders) modernise so Nigeria can benefit and generate more value from this important sector.

    “If we can support those in the banking sector with five trillion to save the banks from collapsing, I don’t think we are doing any disservice to support our farmers, support millions in the animal husbandry sector and support our fishing communities as well.”

  • Cholera kills 146 people in Kebbi

    Cholera kills 146 people in Kebbi

    The Kebbi Epidemic Rapid Response Team on Thursday said that 146 people have died following cholera outbreak in the state this year.

    The leader of the team and Permanent Secretary, Kebbi Ministry of Health, Dr Aminun Haliru-Bunza, disclosed this when the team briefed Gov. Atiku Bagudu and his Deputy, Col. Samaila Yombe-Dabai (Rtd), on the cholera outbreak in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team met the governor and his deputy at the Council Chambers of Government House, Birnin Kebbi, on Thursday.

    Haliru-Bunza, who is also the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, said a total of 2,208 cases of diarrhea and vomiting were reported between January and August this year.

    The team told the governor that “between January and August, 2021, 2,208 cases of Diarrhea and Vomiting have been reported in 20 out of 21 Local Government Areas of the state, out of which 55 samples were tested and 26 turned out positive.

    “A total of 146 deaths have been reported across the state, however the team clarified that for Cholera , a single confirmed case is termed as an outbreak (Epidemic) of Cholera in an area.”

    While calling on the general public to observe personal and environmental hygiene, the team advised people to avoid open defecation.

    During the meeting, the need for inter sectoral collaboration of stakeholders was also emphasised.

    The Executive Secretary, State Primary Healthcare Agency, Dr Abubakar Kaoje, was among other team members that briefed the governor.

  • Kebbi Gov. Bagudu vows to lead hunters, vigilates in battle against bandits

    Kebbi Gov. Bagudu vows to lead hunters, vigilates in battle against bandits

    Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, has vowed to lead hunters and vigilantes in the battlefield against bandits ravaging the state.

    He also joined his counterpart in Ekiti, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to charged the hunters and vigilantes to be ready to defend the territories of states against frequent attacks by bandits.

    The governors stated this on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi while addressing hundreds of local hunters and vigilance groups from different parts of the state

    The groups had converged on the state capital to declare their readiness to wage war against bandits.

    Bagudu, in an emotion laden-voice, told the hunters that he and other governors were ready to be on the battle fields to defend the lives of the people, their property and territories of the nation.

    “We are not military yet and we are not police. We commend and respect what the security agencies for what they are doing and they are doing a great job; but, sometimes, remember security agents are human beings.

    “They also want the community support; they want the support from the vigilantes. So, if we can go to electioneering campaign rallies and gather 100,000 people, what has taken place in Birnin Yauri should be the last strike.

    “We should follow these bandits wherever they are and deal with them all. And I call on all my colleagues in other states too, to do same. How many are they (bandits)? How many of us can they kill?

    “So, we will discuss with the security agencies so that we don’t interfere in the commendable jobs they are doing. But we will go out there, like I promised you; on the day we move out, I will not be in office; I will join you in the field.

    “And I am sure other governors will be leading their people so that we can all meet in the fields. It is not the weapons that win the war, it is the will of the people. Bad people cannot trample upon the will of good people, and we will show them that we have the will power,” he charged.

    Bagudu also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and security agencies for doing their best with limited resources, stressing the need for the people to mobilise themselves and take on the bandits.

    “Yes, we are afraid of death; nobody wants to die. But who will not die? We are afraid not to be hurt, but who will not be hurt?

    “Which one is more tragic? To die like a coward. I think that should be the greatest fear; or to die without faith?

    “Because, as the people of faiths, we know that our Scriptures, both Christians and Muslims, especially Muslims, Islam teaches us to put our lives at risk in defending our honours, or our property or our faith.

    “In all what these bandits are doing to us, they have challenged our faiths, our property and our honours and we can’t allow them to go.

    “So, go back to your communities and mobilise your people because I will get clearance from the security and we will meet them on the field,” the governor urged.

    In his remarks, Fayemi, who is also Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), charged the hunters and people of the state to use all power within their possession to end bandits attack in the state.

    He said: “Our governor (Bagudu) has put on a good fight. That is the demonstration of his commitment to the welfare of his people.

  • How bandits fulfilled promise to attack Kebbi school – Lawmaker

    How bandits fulfilled promise to attack Kebbi school – Lawmaker

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Ngaski/ Shanga/ Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Tanko Sununu has described the attack on the Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri in Kebbi State as a promise fulfilled by bandits.

    The lawmaker explained while featuring on a monitored Channels Television that Thursday’s incident was the latest in the chains of attacks on communities in the area.

    “What really happened is that about two weeks ago, we had an episode when bandits residing within parts of the areas bordering Zamfara, Niger, and Kebbi came up through one of the villages in my constituency.

    “They killed a policeman and found their way until they reached Ibeto area where we have a quarry, killed some security men and kidnapped some of the foreign workers in the quarry and left.”

    He added, “10 days later, they came back to the same area and entered into my constituency bordering some villages, and they had more than a seven-hour field operation going from house to house, room to room, collecting money, phones, cows, and any machine they deemed useful for their operations, and they left a message behind that they would soon be back.

    “To fulfill their promise yesterday, we had intelligence that they were on their way coming. Around 10:30 in the morning, they reached their final destination – the Federal Government College, Birnin-Yauri.”

    Sununu noted that as soon as the bandits got to the school, they were faced with a tough task as they were initially resisted and engaged in a gunfight by operatives of the Mobile Police and Police Counter-Terrorism Unit stationed at the school.

    He disclosed that the fire exchange lasted for a long period before the bandits overpowered the security operatives due to their large number.

    The bandits, the lawmaker stated, succeeded in killing a policeman and gained access into the school and abducted an unspecified number of students and five teachers.

    He explained that it was difficult to ascertain the exact number of students abducted as parents from nearby villages and towns raced to the school to take their children away immediately after the incident.

    Sununu, however, gave an assurance that the military has swung into action, noting that progress has been made.

    He said, “As at last night, I had a discussion with the Field Commander of Operation Hadarin Daji who said that they have succeeded in entering into the den of the kidnappers and I think this is a major success because the security agencies are now taking the fight to the base of the kidnappers.

    “I was also told that over 800 cattle that were rustled some days back have been recovered and as of now, the military has combed the area where we are expecting that the students are with the bandits. They have also succeeded in creating many casualties on the part of the bandits.”

  • JUST IN: Gunmen invade Kebbi school, kidnap several students

    JUST IN: Gunmen invade Kebbi school, kidnap several students

    Gunmen have abducted several female students of Federal Government Girls College Yawuri in Kebbi State.

    The bandits broke into the school premises on Thursday afternoon in police mufti, The Nation learnt.
    “They pointed a gun at the school guards and asked them for the girls’ hostels.

    “Before you know what was happening the bandits invaded the school and started abducting female students,” a source confided.

    Details soon…

  • Bandits ransack eight Kebbi villages, kill over 66 villagers

    Bandits ransack eight Kebbi villages, kill over 66 villagers

    No fewer than sixty-six (66) people have been killed in various villages in Kebbi state.

    Spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, DSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the killing of the people adding that it took place in eight villages of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

    According to him, though, the police were still counting the number of the dead bodies, it had already dispatched a detachment of the officers and men of the police force to the area to restore calm.

    The killing, it was gathered took place in Koro, kimpi, Gaya, Dimi, Zutu, Rafin Gora and Iguenge villages – all in Danko/Wasagu LG area of Kebbi State.

    According to reports, majority of the people in the affected villages have escaped to the nearby town of Riba for safety.

  • Kebbi Boat Mishap: 36 Bodies Recovered, Many More Still Missing

    Kebbi Boat Mishap: 36 Bodies Recovered, Many More Still Missing

    Rescue workers have pulled three dozen bodies from the water after an overcrowded riverboat capsized in the Ingaski Local Government Area of Kebbi on Wednesday.

    Survivors and officials said only 20 people were rescued on Wednesday when the wooden boat ferrying passengers to a market broke apart and sank between Niger state and Wara in Kebbi state.

    “Five bodies were recovered yesterday and 31 bodies today, and the recovery operation is ongoing. More bodies are expected to be found,” Abubakar Shehu, a local official supervising the rescue operation said.

    “The bodies are bloated and now coming to the surface which makes it easy to spot them.”

    Riverboat tragedies have become commonplace in Nigeria, mostly due to overcrowding, weather and lack of maintenance, but Wednesday’s toll is one of the deadliest yet in recent years.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday called the mishap “devastating” after the inland waterways authority had said only 20 people had been rescued and another 156 were still missing.

    “When the boat broke into two, I wondered if people were sinking into the water,” survivor Usman Umar said, standing by the riverbank in Ngaski area in Kebbi.

    “The boat capacity was something up to 150 people, us survivors can’t be even 20.”

    Ali Ibrahim Garba, wearing an orange life jacket standing near wooden boats on the river bank, said they were still searching for missing people after saving as many as they could.

    “Right now we are in search of three people, one male and two females,” he said.

    NIW’s local manager, Yusuf Birma told reporters on Wednesday the boat was overcrowded with around 180 people and went down an hour into its journey.

    Local district administrator Abdullahi Buhari Wara said the boat was also loaded with bags of sand from a gold mine.

    NIWA has also banned night-time sailing on the rivers to stop accidents and says overloading ships is a criminal offense, but skippers and crews often ignore the regulations.

    Early in May, 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in Niger state.

    The boat carrying 100 local traders also split into two after hitting a trunk during a storm as they were returning from a local market.

  • Buhari mourns victims of Kebbi boat mishap

    Buhari mourns victims of Kebbi boat mishap

    President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the victims of a boat which capsized at Corner Libata in Ingaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

    Buhari in a statement issued on Wednesday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, commiserated with the families of the victims.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that more than 150 people were missing and feared drowned in northwest Nigeria after an overloaded boat ferrying passengers to a market sank in the Niger River, local officials said.

    The boat was travelling between central Niger state and Wara in northwest Kebbi state when it went down, National Inland Waterways Authority local manager Yusuf Birma told reporters.

    Reacting, President Buhari described the news of the capsizing as devastating, offering his heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected by this tragedy.

    According to the President’s spokesman, there are indications that the boat was overloaded and there is no official confirmation on the number of casualties.

    “While efforts are ongoing to recover more survivors, the President extends his gratitude to all those involved in the rescue efforts and wishes those injured from the accident quick recovery,” the statement partly read.

    The passengers were said to be heading to a market in Malele in Borgu local government area of Niger state when the boat sank an hour into the journey.

    Local district administrator Abdullahi Buhari Wara earlier blamed the accident on overloading as the boat was meant to ferry no more than 80 passengers.

    Boat tragedies are common on Nigerian waterways mostly due to overcrowding, bad weather and lack of maintenance, but Wednesday’s toll would be one of the deadliest recent accidents.

    “The vessel was also loaded with bags of sand from a gold mine,” he said.

    Early this month 30 people drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in Niger state.

    The boat ferrying 100 local traders split into two after hitting a stump during a storm as they were returning from a local market, according to emergency officials.

  • 156 declared missing after boat mishap in Kebbi

    156 declared missing after boat mishap in Kebbi

    The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has declared 156 persons missing in the boat mishap which occurred in Kebi State on Wednesday.

    Mr Yusuf Birma, NIWA area manager in Yauri Kebbi State, disclosed this, adding that the accident was caused by overloading.

    Birma said rescue operation is still ongoing but added that four people have been confirmed dead, 20 rescued alive while 156 people are still missing.

    “The boat is carrying 180 passengers with 30 Bajaj motorcycles. The victims were going to a market in Malele in Borgu local government area of Niger state from Kebbi and the incident happened just one hour into their trip.

    “We are still rescuing the victims; the mishap occurred as a result of overloading. The boat capacity is not up 180 passengers it carried, as we speak, only 20 people have been rescued alive, four dead confirmed while the remaining 156 people are still missing and they are believed to be underwater,” he told reporters.

    Speaking further on the cause of the mishap, Birma added that most of the boats are old and weak.

    “The boat involved is a wooden boat which are is old and are very weak but this people will not listen when we sensitised them to reduce the number of passengers they are carrying with the boat, ” he said.

    The Niger state emergency management agency also confirmed the incident adding that it didn’t happened in their state.