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Tag: Niger State

  • Son wets mother with fuel, sets her ablaze in Niger State

    Son wets mother with fuel, sets her ablaze in Niger State

    Mrs Comfort Jiya, former Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Sabon Wuse and Maryam Babangida Girls Science College, Minna, was allegedly set ablaze by her biological son, Steven Jiya last Monday.
    The tragic incident happened in Minna, Niger State capital.
    Steven, who was described as a drug addict, reportedly returned from Suleja, still in Niger, on Monday and poured petrol on his mother while she was in her kitchen at her residence in Darusalam Area of Minna.
    A family source revealed that she died at about 3 pm on Friday at Minna General Hospital where she was receiving treatment.
    Another source also confirmed that Steven had made several attempts to harm his mother but had his way when he poured petrol on her.
    The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for comments as of the time this report was filed.
    Steven has already been remanded by a Minna high court. The GRA Police division, Minna, had arraigned him in court.
  • Unpatriotic people fueling insecurity in the state – Niger

    Unpatriotic people fueling insecurity in the state – Niger

    The Niger State Government has urged farmers to ignore threats by bandits to pay levies and taxes to them before they can be allowed to harvest their farm produce.

    The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, urged the communities to ignore the criminal threats and go ahead to harvest their farm produce, adding that the government had put up security architecture to protect them.

    Umar stated that bandits in some communities wrote to farmers threatening them to pay some taxes and levies before harvesting their farm produce.

    “Some criminal elements in Rumbun Giwa in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State recently wrote under the name, ‘Kungiyan Manuma’, ordering all farmers to pay some specific levies and taxes before they could harvest from their farm produce,” he stated.

    The commissioner said the state government had put modalities in place to ensure that those behind the threat were apprehended and brought to justice.

    He stated, “We are aware that God has blessed our farmers with bumper harvest this cropping season and the government is determined to support them.

    “These criminal are trying to extort the farmers; communities should support the security agencies; we are doing everything to ensure that criminals don’t have a space in our communities.

    “Some unpatriotic people are fuelling insecurity and crises in the state, but the government is up to its responsibility.”

     

  • Insecurity: Fish out bad eggs, Gov Bello tells Niger community members

    Insecurity: Fish out bad eggs, Gov Bello tells Niger community members

    The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, has urged members of the communities in the Mashegun Local Government Area of the state to be vigilant and observant of the activities in their neighbourhood.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mary Noel-Berje, in a statement made available to reporters on Tuesday, said he made the visit following the recent activities of bandits in the communities.

    Governor Bello noted that the visit was aimed at obtaining first-hand information on the incidents to enable the government to restrategize and plan on how to prevent reoccurrence.

    “I decided to come and see what has happened, get first-hand information so that we can plan how to stop such things from happening going forward. It is unfortunate that people are being attacked while saying their prayers early in the morning,” he said.

    At Tugan Ba’ari, Adogon Malam and Mazakuka communities where the Governor visited respectively and interacted with the residents, his message was the same.

    He empathised with them on the situation and stressed the need for them to make peace and be on the watch out for people with questionable character amongst them.

    Governor Bello further urged them to work out modalities on how to fish out bad eggs among them so as to assist the security agents in curtailing the situation, pointing out that there cannot be a successful attack without an insider.

     

  • Bandits takeover Niger road in broad daylight, kidnap travellers

    Bandits takeover Niger road in broad daylight, kidnap travellers

    An unspecified number of armed bandits on Saturday blocked the Kontagora-Minna Road in Niger State, causing gridlock in the area.

    This left many vehicles and travellers stranded around the Yakila and Garun Gabas areas near Kundu in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

    According to reports, the blockage of the road lasted about one hour and there were no security personnel to clear the road in the area at the time.

    Travellers were said to have fled into nearby villages as they could not continue their journey over fears of being kidnapped by the armed men.

    Despite this, the bandits reportedly abducted an undisclosed number of persons and moved them to an unknown destination.

    But witnesses said a team of security operatives later arrived at the scene to clear the road in a bid to ensure it was safe for travellers and motorists.

  • Police in Niger State rescue 8 kidnap victims

    Police in Niger State rescue 8 kidnap victims

    Police in Niger State say they have rescued eight persons kidnapped at Sarkin Pawa Forest of Munya Local Government Area of the state.

    Police spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement issued in Minna on Thursday that the rescued victims were kidnapped on Sunday in the local government area on the Kaduna-Abuja Highway.

    Abiodun said based on credible intelligence, police operatives on patrol along Lukuma/Shafe Road of Sarkin Pawa rescued the victims on Wednesday at about 5 p.m.

    Abiodun added that seven of the rescued victims hail from Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State while the eighth victim hails from Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    He said preliminary investigation showed that the victims began their journey from Kankia town in Katsina State on Nov. 21 heading to Abuja when they were kidnapped on the Kaduna/Abuja Expressway.

    “In the course of debriefing the victims, it was discovered that they were taken to Kofa Forest in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State,’’ he stated.

    Abiodun added that efforts were on-going to arrest the fleeing hoodlums.

    “We appeal to rural dwellers to assist in the on-going fight against criminals with intelligence information that could aid the police in apprehending the miscreants,’’ he stated.

  • ISWAP, Boko Haram terrorists planning to establish permanent camps in our state, Niger Government raises alarm

    ISWAP, Boko Haram terrorists planning to establish permanent camps in our state, Niger Government raises alarm

    Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram terrorists are planning to establish a camp in Niger State, authorities have said.

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Matane, raised the alarm on Tuesday while briefing reporters in Minna, the state capital.

    He decried the escalated rate of attacks by bandits on innocent residents in recent weeks, saying they were now collaborating with insurgents to worsen the security situation in the state.

    Matane lamented that the insurgents – who have carried out attacks that have killed hundreds of thousands of people in the North East over the years – were suspected to be present already in two local government areas of the state.

    He was worried that the state was in such a situation despite the effort of the government to protect its citizens, including spending a sum of N5 billion to combat the security challenges in Niger.

    Intelligence reports, according to the SSG, reveal that bandits have begun to align with insurgents to indoctrinate residents in some communities of Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) to imbibe strict Islamic ideology and ban women from going to schools.

    He listed some of the communities visited by the insurgents to include Koki, Madaka, Kurebe, Kusare, and Chukuba, where residents were assured of protection but asked to embark on civil disobedience and reject western education.

    “These people (Boko Haram) often go to communities to communicate with them (residents) and assure them that they will not harm them, and join them during Friday congregational prayer to preach to them on the need to forsake western education and embark on civil disobedience,” Matane told reporters in his office at the Government House in Minna.

    “These are some of the attributes of Boko Haram that are perpetrated in the North East and the Sambisa Forest axis.”

    He added that ISWAP fighters were also making an attempt to establish a permanent camp at Babana Forest around the Kaiji National Park in Borgu LGA.

    The insurgents, the SSG explained, tried to contact the state government through a video in which they claimed not to be criminals, but messengers sent by God to establish an Islamic caliphate in the area.

    He stated that the insurgents, said to be spotted in communities bordering Nigeria and Benin Republic, have started going around to indoctrinate the people.

    “ISWAP is trying to establish a camp at National Park at Babana in Borgu Local government Area of Niger State,” Matane said.

    “They also made a video claiming that they are not kidnappers, but engaging in religious activities. They have assured us that they are ‘God sent’ to establish an Islamic caliphate. Despite their rapprochement, we are not negotiating with them.”

    According to him, Munya, Rafi, Shiroro, Mashegu, and Mariga LGAs are the epic centre of kidnappings and banditry while parts of Lapai LGA have begun to experience such security challenges.

  • Banditry: Gov Bello bans sale of motorcycles in Niger State

    Banditry: Gov Bello bans sale of motorcycles in Niger State

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, has ordered the immediate ban on the sale of motorcycles across the state.

    This follows the incessant security challenges in parts of the state, in addition to the demands for motorcycles as ransom by bandits and kidnappers in recent times.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, announced the ban in a statement on Saturday in Minna, the state capital.

    He explained that the state government announced the additional measure to eradicate the activities of criminals and tackle bandits and kidnappers who have continued to attack innocent residents in the state.

    The government, Matane stated, has condemned in strong terms the degree of carnage and pandemonium bandits and kidnappers have caused in some parts of the state and reiterated its continued determination to rid the state of any security threat.

    “Government is aware of the inconveniences the measure would cause the people, but the decision was taken in the overall interest of the state and appeals to the dealers of motorcycles across the state to cooperate with the directive,” he said.

    The SSG also called on the people of the state to cooperate with the security agencies on the measures put in place to put an end to the activities of criminal elements, saying it was for the benefit of all and sundry.

    He said the government has also ordered security agencies in the state to ensure effective and strict compliance and enforcement of the ban.

    Similarly, Matane reaffirmed that the activities of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as okada or Kabu-Kabu in Niger, as well as the operation of illegal garages, remained banned in Minna metropolis and its environs.

    The ban comes after the state government restricted the movement of all motorcycles from 6pm to 6am – a directive that is still in force.

  • Boko Haram takes over two LGs in Niger State

    Boko Haram takes over two LGs in Niger State

    Boko Haram terrorists have taken over five communities in Rafi and Shiroto Local Government Areas of Niger state, an official of the state said.

    Alhaji Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Minna on Monday.

    He explained that the Boko Haram insurgents are fully in charge in Hanawanka,Madaka ,in Rafi LGA and Kurebe, Gussau,Farina Kuka in Shiroro LGA, forcing the rural dwellers to migrate to safer grounds.

    He explained that the terrorists move freely in the effected areas, wielding sophisticated and menacing weapons.

    Matane said the state has already notified security agencies for proper urgent security measures.

    ” We have spent over N 2 billion on the security agencies in the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the last two years .

    ” We will continue to accord priority attention to the welfare of security personnel deployed to enable them wipeout all those involved in the illegal acts for peace, progress and political stability.

    ” We equally appealed to residents to volunteer reliable information on the movement of bad characters to the nearest security outfits for security action.

    ” We have also reached out to traditional and religious leaders as well as stakeholders to mobilize residents to support the effort of the government in the ongoing fight against criminal elements”,he said.

    Matane, also acknowledged and applauded the Niger state government efforts at tackling the menace.

    He said the government will not rest on its oars to bring to a halt security challenges confronting the state.

  • Gunmen kidnap 4 women in Suleja

    Gunmen kidnap 4 women in Suleja

    The Police Command in Niger on Thursday confirmed the abduction of four women by gunmen at Haske Dabara community, Agwan Gwari Kwamba of Suleja Local Government Area of the State.

    The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Monday Kuryas, who confirmed the incident in Minna said: “Yes it has happened at about 1 a.m. last night and already anti-kidnapping team, the army and vigilante had been deployed to rescue the victims.

    “We will do everything humanly possible to apprehend all those miscreants undermining the peaceful coexistence among residents.

    “I am appealing to residents, especially rural dwellers, to come forward with credible information on movement of strange faces among them to the nearest security personnel for necessary security action”.

    The commissioner solicited more working support by coming forward with intelligence information that could aid the security personnel deployed across the state in the ongoing fight against kidnapping, banditry and other criminal elements in the state.

    An eyewitness said the gunmen entered the community at about 12.46 a.m. with gunshots that scared the residents.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen abduct 13 passengers in Niger

    BREAKING: Gunmen abduct 13 passengers in Niger

    The Police Command in Niger on Wednesday confirmed the abduction of thirteen passengers by gunmen at Konar Barau village of Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state,Mr Monday Kuryas, confirmed the incident in an interview in Minna.

    Kuryas said that at about 1530 hours, the DPO of Zungeru reported that one Mubarak Idris of Kwanawa village,Sokoto State, a driver of an 18-seater bus with registration number LGT 12 XWX loaded with 18 passengers from Yauwuri Kebbi state mostly fishermen heading to Yenagoa Beyelsa state on fishing activities,reported the matter to the police.

    He said Idris reported that on getting to Konar Barau sharp bend under Rafi local government area along Tegina — Minna road, suspected bandits in military uniform kidnapped 13 of his passengers and his motor boy.

    He said the gunmen also dispossessed the driver with N131,500 .

    The commissioner said that already aggressive manhunt for the hoodlums had commenced and solicited the support of residents, especially those in rural areas, to assist the police with reliable information that could lead to the arrest of the miscreants.

    ” We appeal to residents to volunteer reliable information that could aid in apprehending miscreants in the state.

    ”We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure the protection of lives and property in our area of supervision.

    ”All we require from residents is vital intelligence information that could aid the security personnel deployed across the state on movement of dubious characters in their midst for necessary security action,” he said.