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Tag: Sokoto

  • Just in: Bandits kill 18 in Sokoto

    Just in: Bandits kill 18 in Sokoto

    Gunmen, suspected to be bandits, on Saturday night killed no fewer than 18 persons across villages in Rabah local government area, eastern axis of Sokoto.

    The incident, which also left four others with various degrees of major injuries, is one of the most recent dastardly attacks in the state.

    Chairman, Zakkat and Endowment Commission and member, state committee on Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs), Malam Lawal Maidoki, disclosed these to reporters on Sunday.

    It was learnt the council chairman and a team of joint security operatives have been to Rakumni, Tsage and Kalgo for rescue operation.

    They are also said to be assembling the corpses for burial.

    Attempts to get the Sokoto Police Command spokesperson, DSP Sadik Abubakar to confirm the occurrence of the incident failed.

    Similar deadly attacks were carried out across 8 villages in Rabah local government last year with several people killed and displaced.

  • Operation Puff Adder: Sultan of Sokoto Pledges to Support IGP

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja.

    Efforts by the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP M.A Adamu towards galvanizing broad-based support in the fight against armed banditry and other crimes in the country received a comprehensive boost with the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III CFR pledging an unalloyed support to the Police and other security agencies.

    The Sultan made this pledge at his Palace on Tuesday in Gida Sarkin Musulmi, Sokoto when the IGP, in the company of the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alh. Mannir Dan’iya and other top Police officers and government functionaries paid him a courtesy visit.

    While promising to use the platform of the Forum of Northern Traditional Rulers to rally support of all the Traditional Rulers from Northern Nigeria to fight armed banditry and other crimes in the region, the Sultan equally aligned himself with the IGP’s policy direction of using the tool of Community Policing and Partnership to combat crime. The Sultan also urged Nigerians from all walks of life to support the Police in the fight against all manner of crime in the Country.

    Thereafter, the IGP visited the Police headquarters in the state where he charged the officers and men of the command to up the ante in the fight against armed banditry and other crimes in the State, promising to do everything within his power to provide them with adequate working tools and healthy working environment.

  • Supplementary polls: APC rejects Benue, Sokoto governorship results

    Supplementary polls: APC rejects Benue, Sokoto governorship results

    The Sokoto State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday rejected the declaration of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal as winner of the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mr Tambuwal winner of the election after Saturday’s supplementary with a narrow margin of 342 votes.

    The Chief Collation/Returning Officer, Fatima Mukhtar, said Mr Tambuwal of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured the highest votes of 512, 002, defeating his close rival Ahmad Aliyu of APC, who polled 511, 660 votes.

    Addressing a press conference in Sokoto, the APC’s spokeman, Bello Danchadi, rejected the declaration on the ground that the process was flawed with irregularities, which he said were duly reported to electoral body.

    Mr Danchadi said the margin of 342 votes was far less than the registered voters in polling units where elections were not held, a development which he said contravened the electoral law.

    He said the party had also registered its complaints to INE, which included alleged outright rigging perpetrated by the PDP.

    He alleged that some eligible voters at some polling centres were denied voting, and in some places repeated votings were recorded.

    “We draw the attention of INEC to a number of polling units that were canceled as result of violent attacks by thugs, while others were arbitrarily canceled to please certain political party interests.

    “In view of these we deem it necessary to express our disagreement with the action taken by INEC to declare a winner without giving us a fair hearing in our position in the electoral processes, ” he said.

    Benue

    Meanwhile, the Benue chapter of the APC also rejected the outcome of the governorship election declared on Sunday, in favour of Gov Samuel Ortom of the PDP.

    The party said in a statement on Sunday in Makurdi that the results did not reflect the wishes of the people.

    The statement signed by Eugene Aliegba, Secretary Jime/Ode Campaign Organisation, said that APC would challenge the results in court.

    Mr Ortom polled 434,473 votes to defeat his closest rival, Emmanuel Jime of the APC, who polled 345,155 votes.

    The statement declared that the outcome of the poll was “totally unacceptable to the APC”.

    It, however, thanked those who voted for Mr Jime and Sam Ode, the party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates in the election, and prayed God to reward them for their trust and confidence in the team.

    “When we embarked on this journey many months ago, it was to translate to reality the dreams of a better future for our suffering people.

    “We toured the entire state and made our case for wealth creation through agriculture, education reforms, infrastructure development and a welfare package for our senior citizens.

    “We told our people of our plans for improved capacity and welfare for civil servants, and a health policy that covers all Benue residents.

    “Our messages resonated with the electorate because they could tell that our projects were about service, not hinged on intent to occupy office for the sake of it.

    “But, even as the results declared did not appear to reflect the will of most of these same people, we call on our supporters to remain calm and law abiding as they had been throughout the campaigns and electioneering period.

    “They have our full assurance that as a party that believes in democracy, we will not accept a stolen election,” it added.

    The statement implored the party faithful not to waver in their trust on the party to reclaim is mandate.

    “Going into this contest, we were well aware of the fact that only one of two outcomes was possible – either we win fairly in line with the massive support we earned from the people, or another winner emerges through a credible and transparent process.

    “We did not anticipate a third option that confers advantage to those who play dubiously outside the laid down rules of the game,” he said.

    “We will make a case before the Elections Petitions Tribunal to subject the Benue governorship elections result to an integrity test. If we opt otherwise, we will be as guilty as those who undertake acts that undermine democracy.

    “We have chosen to take action that insulates democracy from practices that threaten it,” the statement said.

    The party, therefore, urged its members and well-wishers to remain calm and refrain from acts that would jeopardise the existing peace in the state.

     

  • BREAKING: PDP’s Tambuwal leads in Sokoto Gov Poll

    BREAKING: PDP’s Tambuwal leads in Sokoto Gov Poll

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party has won the governorship election in Sokoto state.

    He won with a slim margin of 341 votes.

    Tambuwal polled a total score of 512,002 votes to beat
    Ahmad Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress who garnered 511,661.

    The Resident Electoral Officer, Prof. Sadiq Musa, had said the outcome the declaration of winner will be based on simple majority.

    The final collation and announcement is being awaited.

  • BREAKING: INEC adjourns collation of Sokoto rerun

    BREAKING: INEC adjourns collation of Sokoto rerun

    The collation exercise for the Sokoto state governorship supplementary elections results has been adjourned to 9am on Sunday.

    The adjournment following the non- arrival of results from Kebbe local government, which is the last of the 22 Local Government Areas.

    The Returning Officer, Professor Fatima Mukhtar, who announced the adjournment before party agents, heads of security agencies, the media, observers and other stakeholders had presided over results of 21 LGs where the rerun was conducted.

    However, out of the rerun results, APC is leading with 14 local governments against PDP’s 7.

    Incumbent Governor Aminu Tambuwal has an earlier margin of 3413 votes in the March 9th polls.

    Before the election was declared inconclusive, Tambuwal of the PDP had 489, 558 votes over APC candidate, who scored 486,145.

  • 2019: Sokoto Governorship election inconclusive – INEC

    2019: Sokoto Governorship election inconclusive – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared March 9 Governorship election in Sokoto state inconclusive.

    It said the decision was because 75, 403 votes were cancelled which were higher than 3, 413 margin difference.

    The State’s Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Fatima Muktar, made the declaration on Sunday in Sokoto, stating that 51 Candidates contested the election.

    Muktar, who is the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Dutse (FUD) , Jigawa, declared that it was based on the consideration of cancelled votes that emanated from 136 polling units in the state.

    ” From the forgoing, the election is declared inconclusive as I cannot take a decision in recognition of the narrow margin according to electoral law” Muktar said.

    She added that the total registered voters were 1, 887, 767 while 1, 033, 081 voters were accredited.

    She said the total valid votes were 987, 952 and the total rejected votes were 30, 082 while the total votes cast were 1, 018, 024 at the concluded election.

    According to the results declared,
    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has won the election in 12 out of the 23 LGAs results announced with 3,413 votes margins.

    NAN reports that Tambuwal polled 489, 558 votes while his close rival, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) scored 486, 145 votes.

    According to her, the PDP has the higher votes in 12 LGAs while APC has 11 LGAs with a margin of 3, 413 votes difference between them.

    She said the figure of cancelled votes was 75, 403 at different polling units across the state due to various reasons.

    She further explained that other parties shared the remaining percentage of votes cast.

    Results are as follows;

    Rabah
    APC 16,535
    PDP 13,232

    Kware
    APC 19,001
    PDP 20,011

    Silame
    APC 12,341
    PDP 15,923

    Binji
    APC 10,699
    PDP 12,367

    Bodinga
    APC 20,779
    PDP 21,416

    Tureta
    APC 11,454
    PDP 13,017

    Yabo
    APC 16,215
    PDP 13,299

    Tangaza
    APC 16,374
    PDP 47,661

    Wurno
    APC 19,487
    PDP 13,592

    Gudu
    APC 12, 022
    PDP 14, 901

    Isa
    APC 16, 762
    PDP 23, 911

    Tambuwal
    APC 29, 081
    PDP 42, 830

    Sokoto South
    APC 36, 779
    PDP 40, 059

    Sabon Birni
    APC 31, 234
    PDP 33, 395

    Goronyo
    APC 20, 876
    PDP 19, 915

    Gada
    APC 25, 433
    PDP 20, 262

    Wamakko
    APC 34, 834
    PDP 26, 171

    Dange Shuni
    APC 23, 338
    PDP 22, 783

    Sokoto North
    APC 35, 030
    PDP 31, 230

    Kebbe
    APC 11, 820
    PDP 9, 751

    Gwadabawa
    APC 24, 741
    PDP 21, 703

    Shagari
    APC 19, 414
    PDP 17, 959

    Illela
    APC 25, 908
    PDP 20, 370

  • Tambuwal confirms 16 killed in fresh Sokoto banditry

    Tambuwal confirms 16 killed in fresh Sokoto banditry

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has confirmed the death of 16 people in a fresh banditry at Dalijan, Rakkoni and Kalhu communities in the Rabah Local Government Area of the state.

    Tambuwal made the announcement at a news conference on Tuesday in Sokoto, saying that the incident occurred on Monday night.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the banditry, which started in Sokoto State on July 9 last year has taken a total of 81 lives.

    The governor called on security agencies to intensify efforts at safeguarding the people’s lives and property.

    Commiserating with victims and their families, Tambuwal prayed Allah to grant them fortitude to bear the loss.

    On the recent political happenings after the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly elections, Tambuwal expressed his concern that some politicians were indulging in do-or-die politics.

    The governor said the situation had negated calls for peaceful campaigns and elections devoid of thuggery.

    “ During the elections, we experienced developments that clearly exhibited continued determination of the opposition to engaged in do-or- die politics.

    “Leaders and loyalists of our party, the PDP were harassed, hounded and arrested by security agents even on the Election Day.

    “ The opposition also engaged in post-election mayhem, with attacks and arson on law-abiding citizens” Tambuwal claimed.

    “ Many properties and houses were razed in Wamakko and Kware towns as well as parts of Sokoto metropilis in a show of terror against perceived opponents and non-partisan members of the public.”

    According to him, many polling units identified as PDP strongholds had logistic and technical problems with delayed balloting to very late hours.

    “We were aware of efforts to engaged electoral officials and security agents by the opposition with a view to compromising their integrity.

    “ These manifested through various mechinations and techniques that included the late hour transfer of security officials and replacement of electoral officers.”

    He emphasised that his administration was committed to free and fair elections, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and freedom.

    “Our concern is greater victory through winning ballot boxes.

    “ Our objective for seeking your mandate is for service to the society rather than proving our strength as we demand chance for our people to choose or reject us in their own free will.”

    Tambuwal urged the populace to continue to be patient and law-abiding as more critical elections that had direct bearing to people’s lives were coming in the next few days.

    He appealed to people to re commit themselves to the democratic process, stressing that people should prepare to come out and elect leaders of their choice.

    The governor said that the people should not allow ourselves to be intimidated or terrorised to the extent of failing to discharge their civic duties in the remaining elections, scheduled for March 9.

  • Python Dance: Army arrest seven ‘hoodlums’ in Sokoto

    The Nigerian Army says it has arrested “a group of hoodlums causing mayhem, extorting money and threatening the lives of innocent citizens” in Sokoto.
    Maj. Clement Abiade, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, told newsmen on Saturday in Sokoto that the seven suspects were apprehended at the Kalambaina and Federal Government College junction in Sokoto on Wednesday.
    Abiade said that the suspects, who were in two vehicles were intercepted and found to be in possession of dangerous weapons.
    He added that the suspects were allegedly seen throwing stones indiscriminately while chanting political slogans.
    According to him, they obstructed the free flow of vehicular traffic and attempted to cause a breakdown of law and order.
    He said that although soldiers arrested some of the suspects, many others fled the scene of the incident.
    The spokesman gave the names of the suspects as Auwalu Shehu, Muritala Garba, Jamilu Bello, Abubakar Aliyu, Musa Abubakar, Zayyanu Aliyu, and Bashir Sarkinfawa.
    “A group of miscreants and thugs along Kalambaina area blocked roads throwing stones and harassing passerby.
    “The troops on routine patrol for the safety and serenity of the metropolitan ran into a groups of hoodlums causing mayhem, extorting and threatening the lives of innocent citizens,” Abiade said.
    According to him, the exercise is part of Egwu Eke III, Python Dance inaugurated by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai to strengthen internal security.
    He said that developments in the area made it imperative for the army to activate Operation Python Dance in the states that make up the North West zone of the country with the deployment of troops in all areas of operation.
    Abiade stated that the effort has begun to yield positive dividends.
    He said the items recovered from the suspected hoodlums were five machetes, two knives, two catapults, two long sticks, one tyre ream, three bottles of codeine and stones.
    He added that the army would handover the arrested suspects to the police for appropriate action.
    He appealed to people in the area to live in peace with one another and abide by the stipulated rules enshrine by constitution.

  • Ex-president Shagari buried in Sokoto

    Ex-president Shagari buried in Sokoto

    Former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, was on Saturday buried in his hometown, Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

    Shagari, who passed on Friday at the age of 93, was interred at exactly 3.30pm after the funeral prayers led by Professor Shehu Galadanchi, former Vice Chancellor, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto.

    His corpse had arrived at the Sultan Abubakar airport, Sokoto earlier and was received by Governor Aminu Tambuwal, alongside members of the state executive counci.

    Dignitaries who attended the funeral prayers included delegations from the Federal government led by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to Government of the Federation, and governors of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

    The former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa was also in attendance alongside former Independent National Electoral Commission chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, Waziri Sokoto, Professor Junaid Walk, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, former Minister, Mukhtar Shagari, and others.

     

  • Shagari’s body leaves Abuja for burial in Sokoto

    Shagari’s body leaves Abuja for burial in Sokoto

    The body of late former President, Shehu Shagari, has left the nation’s capital, Abuja, en route Sokoto State, his hometown for burial later on Saturday.

    Recall that the first Executive President of Nigeria died on Friday evening at 93 years.

    His body will be received by the Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal before being transported to his hometown in Shagari Local Government Area of the state, reports Channels Television.

    Encomiums have since been pouring in from eminent personalities all over the country since the demise of the elder statesman on Friday.