TheNewsGuru

Tag: Niger State

  • PDP postpones governorship primary election in Niger as aspirants protest

    The governorship primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger was postponed from Wednesday to Thursday following protests by four of the five aspirants contesting the election.

    The protesting aspirants, Alhaji Sani Kutigi, Alhaji Sidi Abdul, Mr Abdulrahman Gimba and Alhaji Abubakar Jankara, insisted that delegates must identify themselves properly before they could be accredited.

    A total of 800 delegates were expected to elect the party’s governorship candidate.

    The four aspirants took the decision that all delegates must identify themselves properly after an emergency meeting they held in one of the offices at the PDP secretariat, venue of the election.

    Jankara, who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants, conveyed their decision to the Chairman of the electoral panel and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

    The protesters insisted that delegates must present a means of identification, which should be a national drivers’ licence, a national identity card or international passport.

    Efforts by Ewhrudjakpo to pacify the aspirants to agree that the delegates be identified by the chairmen of their respective local governments failed.

    The four aspirants also intimated the head of the security team at the venue, Assistant Commissioner of Police Adedeji Taiwo, who advised them to put their complaint in writing.

    Ewhrudjakpo later informed newsmen that he had directed all delegates to get means of identification and shifted the exercise to Thursday.

  • Tears as Deborah Samuel’s remains is buried in Niger state

    Tears as Deborah Samuel’s remains is buried in Niger state

    Pastor Emmanuel Maaaji of the First Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Tunga Magajiya, Niger, has confirmed the arrival in Magajiya of the remains of the slain student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, Miss Deborah Samuel for burial.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports late Deborah Samuel was killed on Thursday by some college students for alleged blasphemy and the remains of her arrived in her village, Tunga Magajiya, Rijau Local Government Area of the state, for burial on Saturday.

    Maaaji, the pastor to the deceased’s family in charge of the church in Tunga Magajiya, spoke by telephone to newsmen on Saturday.

    “The family is insisting that late Deborah Samuel be buried today because they are not happy with the way the government is handling the issue,” he said.

    Maaaji said that the late Samuel’s mother “has been unconscious since she heard the news on Thursday, which led to a rise in her blood pressure while the father has been inconsolable”.

    He alleged that the body of the late Samuel was brought in a chartered bus.

    He, however, said “the government called and said that it is not right for the family to take the body in that manner without informing the government of Sokoto State.

    “The Sokoto State government told the family that Deborah’s body belongs to the government and not the family”.

    Maaaji said that although he could not recollect the name of the person who called, the person claimed to be representing the government of Sokoto State.

    Similarly, Rev. Danjuma Doma, Coordinator, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Rijau Local Government area of the state, confirmed that the family and church were preparing for the burial.

    “We are preparing for the burial. She will be buried today.

    “We are all here to give the family support. We will update you on the situation as it goes,” he said.

    The state chapter of CAN led by Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora, had condoled the Christian faithful in the state, especially, Rijau Local Government and the family of the late Samuel.

    “We are deeply sorry to hear about the passing on to glory of our beloved sister, Deborah Samuel.

    “Our deepest sympathy goes out to the entire Christian community in Niger, most especially, the people of Rijau Local Government and her immediate family.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Christian community and all her family.

    “At this difficult time of sadness and bereavement, may God have mercy on her and grant her eternal rest.

    “May God grant the immediate family and indeed all of us the fortitude to bear the loss,” he prayed.

    TNG, meanwhile reports, that at the time of filing this report, the remains of Samuel had been laid to rest.

  • Niger Governor Bello, VP Osinbajo in close door meeting in Minna

    Niger Governor Bello, VP Osinbajo in close door meeting in Minna

    Nigeria’s vice President Yemi Osinbajo visited Minna the Niger State capital on Friday to hold a close door meeting with Niger state Governor Abubakar Bello,

    Bello received the Vice president at the Presidential suite and the close door meeting also held at the same place.

    It was gathered that the meeting lasted for 3 hours.

    Meanwhile details of the meeting wasn’t revealed as neither the Vice president nor Bello mentioned anything discussed to the press.

    However, findings show that it’s not unconnected to the forthcoming general elecxtions where the vice president is an aspirant.

    He was later accompanied by the governor and other All Progressives Congress’ executives in the state to the airport for an onward journey back to Abuja.

    It was earlier reported some presidential aspirants have started purchasing their 100 million nomination forms in APC but the VP is yet to do so .

  • Niger govt clears N3bn debt owed AEDC –SSG

    Niger govt clears N3bn debt owed AEDC –SSG

    The Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG) Alhaji Ahmed Matane, has disclosed that the state government has paid over N3 billion to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for debts owed it over a period of four years.

    He made this statement at a press conference in Minna, on Wednesday.

    Recall that AEDC had on April 15, issued a notice to disconnect all government facilities from power supply over the N1.9 billion debt owed it by the state government.

    Following the notice, the company went ahead to carry out their threat by disconnecting all government facilities such as the state house of assembly complex, state secretariat, office of the SSG, waterboard and all government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

    Matane, however, disagreed with the debt claims by AEDC, saying that the state government had invested over N3 billion in the company for the purchase of transformers and other services.

    “Two weeks ago we had a discussion with them as regards the current value of the bills that the state government was owing them.

    “We came to a conclusion that while trying to review the claims, we paid about N40 million as against the N100 million being claimed for the month of March.

    “But while we were still discussing the matter, they went ahead to disconnect us,” he said

    Matane said that about 50 per cent of the alleged N1.9 billion was part of the debt left by the precious administration, adding that the state government was a shareholder in the North/South power with about 10 per cent.

    The SSG said that the state government pays N46 million monthly to the company, adding that government had also engaged a private consultant to verify the validity of the claims made by the AEDC.

    He said that the present administration was a responsible government that had always created an enabling environment for investors and private organisations to thrive.

    Matane also assured the general public that efforts were ongoing to revive water supply to residents as soon as possible

  • How 20 people fleeing from bandits drown in Guni-Zumba River

    How 20 people fleeing from bandits drown in Guni-Zumba River

    At least 20 people, consisting of women and children, from Guni in Munyan Local Government Area, of Niger State, have lost their lives on Wednesday morning, after their boat capsized in Guni-Zumba River.

    This was disclosed by a resident of the community, Shehu Abubakar.

    Abubakar explained that the incident occurred when bandits simultaneously invaded the two communities, forcing the locals to flee.

    It was gathered that the victims entered a boat, to cross to the other side of the river, but ended up drowned after it capsized.

    Abubakar pointed out the boat was loaded beyond capacity, forcing it to capsize.

    He said, “Bandits invaded our communities this (Wednesday) morning, and in an attempt to flee, some people drowned in Guni-Zumba River.

    “Due to overloading, the boat capsized in the middle of the water. “For now, we don’t know the number of casualties because we have not been able to rescue anybody.

    “But I can tell you that over 20 people, including women and children, were involved.”

  • Police foil bandits’ attack in Niger State, rescue 20 abducted victims

    Police foil bandits’ attack in Niger State, rescue 20 abducted victims

    The Police Command in Zamfara has rescued five persons who were kidnapped in Niger.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Muhammad Shehu.

    “The state police command, in continuation of its search and rescue operations across various forests in the state, has succeeded in the unconditional rescue of five kidnapped victims.

    “The victims were abducted in Kontagora and Bangi Local Government areas of Niger on Feb. 6 and Feb. 9, 2022 respectively”, he said.

    Shehu said that the victims were abducted from Niger and brought to Dansadau forest in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

    “All the victims were rescued by the police tactical operatives during an extensive search and rescue operations in the forest.

    “The joint police and state government medical team is working in synergy to ensure that the rescued victims receive appropriate medical treatment,” he said.

    The police spokesman added that police detectives from anti-kidnapping squad were debriefing the victims before reuniting them with their respective families.

    He quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayuba Elkanah, as expressing appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, and Gov. Bello Matawalle for their unalloyed support and encouragement to all the security operatives, especially the police.

    While sympathizing with the victims, Elkanah assured the people of the state that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies and the state government, would continue to work assiduously for enthronement of lasting peace and security in the state.

    The police commissioner also called on members of the public to continue to support security operatives in the ongoing battle to rid the state of criminal elements.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen strike in Niger, abduct 15 persons in Kulho village

    BREAKING: Gunmen strike in Niger, abduct 15 persons in Kulho village

    The Niger Police command has confirmed the abduction of 15 persons by some gunmen in Kulho village of Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.

    Police spokesman in the state, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed this in a statement in Minna on Sunday.

    Abioudun said that on Jan .14 at about 2 a.m., suspected bandits attacked Kulho village, a remote community via Ibbi in Mashegu and abducted 15 persons.

    Abiodun also explained that on the same day at about 1 a.m, suspected bandits/terrorists entered Mashegu village through Jigawa and stole a yet to be ascertained number of cattle.

    He said that a team of police had been drafted to the area for search and rescue of the abducted victims.

    “We solicited the support of local residents to volunteer reliable information that could aid in apprehending the miscreants,” he said.

  • Police confirm attack on Sino-Hydro workers in Niger

    Police confirm attack on Sino-Hydro workers in Niger

    The Police Command in Niger has confirmed attack by suspected bandits on workers of Sino-Hydro Power Dam in Zungeru, Wushishi Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement by DSP Wasiu Abiodun, Public Relations Officer of the command in Minna.

    He said the workers comprised some Chinese workers and local staff who were working on a transmission line tower along Gussase village.

    Abiodun said police tactical team attached to the facility engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel and rescued four of the expatriates.

    He said that one of the victims and a local staff sustained bullet injury and had been taken to hospital for treatment.

    “In the process of scampering for safety during the gun duel, three among the expatriates could not be accounted for presently,” he said.

    He said that a joint police and military tactical teams at Zungeru were already on aggressive manhunt of the hoodlums to rescue the missing and abducted expatriates.(

  • BREAKING: Bandits kidnap 2 Chinese workers, kill two security guards in Niger State

    BREAKING: Bandits kidnap 2 Chinese workers, kill two security guards in Niger State

    Bandits have kidnapped two Chinese workers at Zungeru Hydro Power Dam project in Niger State where they killed two security guards.

    Secretary to Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane, confirmed this to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.

    He said details would be made available later.

  • Man loses two wives, son as boat mishap claims 7 lives in Niger

    Man loses two wives, son as boat mishap claims 7 lives in Niger

    A man known as Muazu Babangida has lost his two wives and a son in a mishap that claimed the lives of no fewer than seven persons at Zhigiri village, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by Mr Silas Saba, the spokesperson of Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA) made available to journalists in Minna on Tuesday night.

    Saba, who decried the current challenges caused by the establishment of the Zungeru hydro-electric power dam in the community, said that the incident occurred at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

    He said that the incident occurred when the villagers were sailing to Dnaweto; a neighbouring village in the hinterland for a naming ceremony.

    “Prior to the construction of Zungeru Dam, traveling between these two villages was by land and need not water transportation, as the terrain was majorly dry and motorable.

    “This is one of the social upheaval occasioned by the construction of the dam,” he said.

    He said that the villagers had yet to recover the body of one of the affected victim from the river.

    Saba called on Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) to respond to the incident by providing safety measures such as life jackets and standard boats, among others, to help the people to adapt to their new way of life of water transportation.

    He said that providing these measures and sensitising the people to the use of the waterway would prevent and minimise future occurrence.

    The public relations office of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has said the driver and a lady survived the boat mishap.

    Alhaji Ahmed Inga, the Director-General of the agency made this known in Minna on Wednesday, saying that the bodies of the seven victims of the mishap had also been recovered.

    He said the mishap occurred while the boat was sailing to Dnaweto, a neighbouring village in the hinterland, for a naming ceremony.

    Inga said that the passengers of the boat were nine and they took off from Zhijigiri village to Dnaweto village.

    He said that the boat sailed on the water from the ongoing construction of the Zungeru hydro electric power dam.

    “The boat driver and a lady survived while seven person lost their lives to the unfortunate incident.

    “The bodies of the deceased have been recovered and buried”, he said.