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Tag: niger

  • NECO withholds Niger students’ results over N470m debt

    Students in public secondary schools in Niger State are currently unable to access their NECO May/June SSCE results as the examination body has withheld the results of the students due to debts owed by the government.

    The NECO May/June SSCE results were released on the 27th of August 2019.

    Students bemoaned their inability to access their results in order to attend Post-UTME screenings of the universities of their choice.

    The Niger State Government has admitted that they are owning the examination body N470 million adding that they have paid N150 million.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Niger State Ministry of Education, Abubakar Aliyu admitted that they are owning the examination body but appealed for consideration to enable the students to access their results especially those due for post UTME screenings.

    “The state government has been paying NECO and WAEC for its students from the previous government and the arrangement has always been that when the government has funds, we pay installmentally.

    “NECO is owned N400 million this year and the government has commenced the payment. Last week Friday, we remitted N150 million to them and we are still negotiating with them to release the result but they have not. Hopefully, they may release it today (Monday).”

    Aliyu declared that the government does not have enough money to give to NECO at once assuring that they will pay whenever there are available funds.

    “For us, as a government, we do not have money to release at once but as a responsive government, we have a clear picture of what we want to do. Once we get money, we will make release them. Within the availability of resources, we have given what we have and we will continue to give them what we have until we clear the accumulated debts.”

    The Permanent Secretary, however, stated that if the result is not released before the end of Monday, they will look for ways of sourcing for money to pay the debts adding that one of the Directors in the Ministry is still in a meeting with NECO as at the time of interviewing him.

    The Information Officer, Mallam Azeez Sani could not be reached to state the stand of NECO as to why the examination body has not released the results of the students in the state.

  • NIS intercepts 32 illegal migrants in Niger

    NIS intercepts 32 illegal migrants in Niger

    The Niger state command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has intercepted 32 illegal Migrants in Niger state.

    The migrants who are mostly Nigeriens and Malians had sneaked into the country through illegal routes, the Comptroller, Mamman Ango disclosed.

    According to him, the arrest was made in a bid to secure the country’s border and bring an end to illegal crossing by migrants.

    Ango said that the migrants were between the ages of 12 to 35 and were interrupted in Kontagora adding that when interrogated confessed that they were heading to Lagos in search of greener pastures.

    He said that the illegal migrants were created by the Joint Border Operation Drill codenamed “Ex-Swift Response” which comprised of men of the Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, and Police.

    “Sector 3 of the Joint Border Operation Drill located in Kontagora axis intercepted the migrants who are all males and brought them this morning to the command.

    “We have profiled them and ascertained the nationality of each of them for immediate repatriation back to their respective countries.”

    The Comptroller further said that two 18-seaters buses are being ready to transport the migrants to Kamba Control Post in Kebbi state stating that from there, they would be handed over to the representatives of their respective countries.

    Ango then said that the Immigration Service has no problem with anyone coming into the country in search of greener pasture but stated that they need to go through the right channel and procedures of entering the country.

    He called for cooperation from the public to avail the Immigration Service and other security agencies with useful information to ensure the end is seen of illegal migration into Niger state.

  • Bandits attack three communities in Niger

    Armed bandits have attacked three communities in Rafi local government area of Niger State in a renewed attack in the state.

    The communities attacked by the bandits include Rafin-wayam, Rafin-kwakwa and Gidan Dogo-Gurgu villages.

    This is bringing the number of communities attacked in Niger to four in the past one week.

    According to reports, the armed bandits, whose number could not be ascertained, invaded the town in three motorcycles which carried two or three people in some cases.

    Residents said that they were forced to run to Kagara which is the headquarters of Rafi local government area.

    The victims claimed that their foodstuff and properties were taken away.

    One of the affected residents, who spoke to newsmen, Mallam Sani, said the incident occurred on Tuesday evening alleging that after the attack, the bandits left for Pandogari community.

    “The bandits encircled us at Rafin Wayam village and took all our foods especially breads and beverages before they left for Pangu-Gari community. The attack began at about 6:45pm on Tuesday.”

    In a related development, Youths in Kagara town in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state took to the highway protesting over the incessant banditry and kidnappings in the community.

    The youths blocked the Lagos-Kaduna Highway lamenting that the federal and state governments have left them to their fate.

    The youths carried various placards with inscriptions like “We need help”; “Government save us”; “Help us with food and water’.

    Also some of the youths lamented the poor conditions in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps where the people had to stay over because they could not return to their villages due to fear of renewed attack.

    The youths called on the state government to send in food and other basics necessities to the affected displaced persons from Kukoki, Rafin Wayam, Rafin Kwakwa, Gidan Dogo-gurgu, Maranji and Hanawanka.

    The Police have confirmed these attacks through its Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Abubakar.

    The Police were reviewing the security architecture of communities adding that the Police has swung into action and would bring the situation under control.

  • BREAKING: Plane conveying Hajj returnees crash lands in Niger

    Plane conveying over 600 pilgrims returning from the 2019 annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia crash landed at the Minna International Airport.

    The aircraft, a Boeing 744 with registration number 5N/ DBK was said to have developed technical fault in one of the plane’s four engines when it approached the Minna airport.

    A Source at the airport who confirmed the incident to newsmen said that no one was injured or died in the incident but the passengers were visibly shaken over the incident.

    Evidence of the crash landing of the plane could be seen as part of the tarmac and some materials were damaged when the aircraft skidded off the runway.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Niger state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hajia Hassana Isah when contacted also confirmed the incident but did not give further details.

    According to reports, five officials of the Accident Bureau of Investigation from Lagos had arrived the airport some hours after the incident and had inspected the partly damaged aircraft after which they went into a closed door meeting with the management of the airport.

    On the part of the passengers, it was thanksgiving galore as most of them after rushing out of the plane after the incident gushed their thanks to God for saving them from death.

    Eyewitnesses said that the Minna International Airport was saved from a big disaster as they said the fire from the aircraft, if the plane had crashed would have burnt down the airport as there are no fire fighting vehicles in the airport.

    “The fire that would have followed would have spread to all parts of the airport because we don’t have fire fighting vehicles in this airport”, a senior Official of the airport said.

    No official statement has been released from the management of the airline.

  • Police in Niger arrest soldier for allegedly stabbing man to death

    The Niger Police Command has arrested a Soldier, Lance Cpl. Attahiru Jibril, for allegedly stabbing one Ali Mohammed to death, in Lambatta Market, Gurara Local Government Area of the state.

    Alh. Adamu Usman, Commissioner of Police in Niger, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Minna on Saturday.

    “The suspect attacked and stabbed the victim to death with a knife, following a misunderstanding at the market,” Usman said.

    He said that the incident occurred on Friday.

    “We succeeded in rescuing the suspect from a mob attack at the market and notified military authorities accordingly,” the commissioner said.

    Usman said the suspect claimed he was on special duty in Maiduguri, Borno.

    He added that Jibril would be charged to court after investigations were completed.

  • 15 die, others missing as boat capsizes in Niger

    15 die, others missing as boat capsizes in Niger

    A boat accident in Borgu local government area of Niger State has claimed 15 lives.
    The bodies of other passengers on the boat have not been recovered.
    The boat was said to have been returning from Warrah market, a border community in Ngaski local government area of Kebbi state to Sabo Yumu in Borgu.
    The accident, which occurred at River Malale on Sunday night, was as a result of the bad weather which caused low visibility.
    The boat was said to have run into a tree stump on river Malale midway into the journey.
    According to a source, only two people were rescued from the mishap while 15 corpses were recovered.
    The source said that no-one has been able to ascertain the number of people in the boat.
    According to the source: “The boat was big and have capacity for over 50. Also because it is market day, there is the tendency that it might be overloaded.”
    The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Ahmed Inga confirmed the accident saying 15 corpses have been recovered.
    He added that divers are still searching for the remaining of the occupants adding that the high rate of death is caused by unavailability of life jackets.
    Inga however said the state government is working towards putting in place regulatory framework to check the activities of boat operators and providing life jackets in order to reduce high casualties experienced in boat accidents.

  • Gunmen abduct 18 traders in Niger

    Gunmen have abducted 18 traders in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
    The traders were travelling from Pandogari town in Rafi Local Government to Bassa village for the weekly market.
    The incident was said to have occurred last Saturday.
    The traders were in an 18- seater bus when they ran into a blockade by the gunmen, who shot sporadically.
    An eyewitness said yesterday that the traders were mostly women. Although some men were among them.
    The eyewitness said the traders were forced into a waiting bus and driven into the bush.
    The source noted that this was not the first time that such an incident would occur. “It has now become a regular feature that no one is doing anything about.”
    It was gathered that most of the traders had contacted their families, asking them to pay the ransom demanded, to secure their release.
    The eyewitness said the ransom being demanded was between N200,000 and N500,000, depending on their ‘personality’.
    “They are asking the relations to bring the ransom to a location as far as Funtua town in Katsina State, to avoid being traced by the police. Some of the families are already complying,” the source said.
    When contacted, police spokesman Mohammad Abubakar said: “We heard about the incident, but no official report has been made.
    “We are investigating the matter. We will get back to you when we get official report.”

  • Buhari arrives Niamey ahead of AU Summit [Photos]

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Niger for the 12th Extra-Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government.
    President Buhari departed the country on Saturday morning to join other African leaders.
    The Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union is expected to launch the operational instruments of the Agreement establishing AfCFTA, which Nigeria is expected to sign.
    Prior to the Summit, the Buhari Administration had embarked on extensive consultations with stakeholders, culminating in the submission of the report by the Presidential Committee to Assess Impact and Readiness of Nigeria to join the AfCFTA.
    The committee had recommended that Nigeria should sign the Agreement which aims to boost intra-African trade.

  • Atiku citizenship: Buhari’s father was from Niger Republic – Fani-Kayode

    Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, saying he is not a Nigerian as his father was from Niger Republic.

    Fani-Kayode was reacting to the claim by the All Progressives Congress that the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubukar was from Cameroun.

    The APC had told the Presidential Tribunal that Abubakar is not a Nigerian by birth and that he came from Cameroun.

    According to the APC, by virtue of his not being a Nigerian by birth, Abubakar, was not qualified to have contested the last presidential election.

    It contended that by Section 131(a) of the Constitution, a person must be a citizen of Nigeria by birth to be qualified to contest for the office of the President of the country.

    The party said Abubakar was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, now Adamawa State, then in Northern Cameroun, “and is therefore a citizen of Cameroon.”

    Reacting, Fani-Kayode argued that Atiku is a bonafide Nigerian by birth contrary to claim by the APC-led government.

    “When a non-Nigerian (Buhari) accuses a bona fide Nigerian of being a foreigner, you begin to appreciate why those that have insisted on calling Nigeria a zoo may have a point.

    “It is only in Nigeria that a man whose father was from Niger Republic can accuse others of being foreigners,” Fani-Kayode said on his Facebook wall.

  • Police arrest 10 suspects for alleged electoral offences in Niger

    Police arrest 10 suspects for alleged electoral offences in Niger

    The Niger Police Command has arrested 10 suspects over alleged electoral offences during the Saturday, Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections in different of parts of the state.

    Alhaji Sabo Ibrahim, the State Commissioner of Police, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday.

    Sabo said that the offences ranged from ballot snatching, unlawful possession of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs), destruction of ballot papers and disruption of peaceful conduct at polling units.

    He explained that the suspects were arrested at Lapai, Mokwa and Bida Local Government Areas of the State.

    He said that all the suspects and exhibits were transferred to Force Headquarters, Abuja, for continuous investigation and prosecution.

    The commissioner warned politicians against political violence during and after the Governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state.

    Ibrahim said that the command was committed to providing peaceful political atmosphere before, during and after the elections.

    “We have sufficient personnel to be deployed to all polling units to provide adequate security during the voting exercise.

    “Police will arrest and charge to court any politician or youth caught with dangerous weapons and perpetrating violence before during and after elections.

    “We are fully prepared and committed to crisis-free gubernatorial elections in Niger State,” he said.

    The commissioner said that already the police had put in place robust security measures in ensuring that the elections go peacefully in the state without threat to lives and property.

    “I want to specifically advise parents to monitor the conduct of their children so as not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs in the forthcoming elections.

    “This will not be tolerated as various security measures are already in place to guarantee peaceful political atmosphere for the implementation of the electoral process without hindrance.

    “I wish to also solicit the cooperation of the public through the provision of timely and useful information to all divisions of the command to help us respond to distress calls on time,’’ he said.