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Tag: Sokoto

  • 2023: Wamakko’s nephew, others dump APC for PDP in Sokoto

    2023: Wamakko’s nephew, others dump APC for PDP in Sokoto

    Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State has received hundreds of defectors from other political parties.

    The defectors included the nephew of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader in the state, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North), Zayyanu Wamakko.

    Receiving the new members in Sokoto on Monday, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, of the state appreciated their resolve to join the train of PDP.

    Tambuwal, who is the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council thanked the people of the state for their sustained support to his administration and the PDP.

    “Therefore, I want to advice our teeming youths to keep their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) safe and engage in house to house campaign fore more support to guarantee the victory of PDP at all levels,” he said.

    The governor further described PDP as the best choice for Nigerians.

    “A PDP government, if elected, has designed workable strategies to end banditry, fight corruption, unemployment, address infrastructural decay and boost the socio-economic life of Nigerians among other issues,” he added.

    In his remarks, Malam Sa’idu Umar, the Sokoto gubernatorial flag bearer of PDP pledged to sustain Tambuwal’s legacies and do more, if given the mandate.

    The state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manir Dan’iya, who is also the Senatorial candidate of Sokoto North Senatorial District expressed optimism that he would emerge victorious.

    Dan’iya urged the youths not to compromise peace throughout the electoral processes, appealing to them to always respect constituted authorities.

  • Terror as bandits invade Sokoto communities, killed many and kidnapped 50

    Terror as bandits invade Sokoto communities, killed many and kidnapped 50

    Many residents have been killed and at least 50 others kidnapped by bandits during attacks on several communities in Sokoto State.

    It was gathered that some of the communities attacked are located in Goronyo, Gada and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of the state.

    The bandits were said to have invaded the communities in large numbers, shooting sporadically, and causing many residents to sustain various degrees of injuries.

    In a chat, a resident of Sabon Birni LGA, Lukman Iliyasu, said the attacks took place between Monday and Wednesday.

    He said the communities were invaded for three days over failure to meet the compulsory peace levy on them, adding that several people were killed and others were kidnapped during the attacks.

    In his words: “The attack started from Monday to Wednesday. The affected villages are in Goronyo, Gada and Sabon Birni LGAs. The villages that were attacked yesterday in Sabon Birni are Dan Gari where seven people were killed and dozens were kidnapped, in Kurawa two people were killed and several others were abducted, then Gumozo village, three residents were killed and many others were kidnapped.

    “They were about to invade Gatawa village when security operatives engaged them and I learned that a number of the bandits were killed in the process. The bandits killed many people and took away more than 50 people from some villages. You know how they operate, they invaded different communities on separate days. They have been attacking Sabon Birni for a long time now. They even imposed a compulsory peace levy on our communities.

    “This is the second year we have been placed on a compulsory peace payment. They said they will not allow our farmers to go to farms and cultivate or harvest food produce.

    “Last year, they imposed N3 million on Sabon Birni due to our large population but we could only pay N1.5 million. This year, we were asked to pay N2 million because of the reduction in population as many people have been killed and several others have been displaced but we only paid N1 million to them.”
    Many residents have been killed and ay least 50 others kidnapped by bandits during attacks on several communities in Sokoto State. It was gathered that some of the communities attacked are located in Goronyo, Gada and Sabon Birni Local Government Areas of the state. The bandits were said to have invaded the communities in large numbers, shooting sporadically, and causing many residents to sustain various degrees of injuries. In a chat, a resident of Sabon Birni LGA, Lukman Iliyasu, said the attacks took place between Monday and Wednesday. He said the communities were invaded for three days over failure to meet the compulsory peace levy on them, adding that several people were killed and others were kidnapped during the attacks.
    Confirming the incident, a member of the Sokoto House of Assembly, Kabir Dauda, in a radio interview, said among the 50 persons abducted are women and children.

    According to the lawmaker, some of the injured persons are in a specialist hospital, some are in Goronyo, while others are in Gada community.

    Dauda said the victims are still in captivity and the bandits have demanded N5 million for the release of one person.

    The lawmaker, however, called on relevant authorities to deploy more security operatives to the communities, saying nothing has been done to protect the locals.

    He said: “Two months ago, the security situation reduced but currently, the situation is more heightened than it used to be. Currently, we have over 50 residents that are being held captive by the bandits. In the process of the attack, some people sustained gunshot Injuries.

    “Some of the injured persons are in a specialist hospital, some are in Goronyo, while others are in Gada. Those are some of the villages they invaded. The incidents all occurred within one week. They kept coming every day for three consecutive days. All these happened last week.

    “They invaded Basana, they killed some people and abducted some, they also attacked Tsitse, Balakozo, they took children and several others, they invaded Karangiya and abducted three people and also shot several others. They also attacked Garin Hashimu, killed some residents and also went away with many people.

    “Altogether, the people they abducted that I can confirm are 50 persons taken from different villages. Currently, many residents including women and children, are with the bandits. We don’t have enough security operatives to help the residents because the issue is still prevailing.”

  • 2023: 2 Tambuwal’s aides, scores defect to APC in Sokoto

    2023: 2 Tambuwal’s aides, scores defect to APC in Sokoto

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State had received two Special Assistants of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and scores of other members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    Bashar Abubakar, the Special Adviser to Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North), the party’s leader in the state, said this in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Sokoto.

    According to Abubakar, the Special Assistants were: Alhaji Abdullahi Jabo and Hajiya Hafsatu Tudun-Wada, from Tambuwal and Sokoto South Local Government Areas, respectively.

    He said Jabo and his supporters were received by Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu and Alhaji Idris Gobir, the state APC governorship candidate and his running mate, respectively.

    “Hajiya Hafsatu Tudun-Wada and scores of her supporters were received by the wife of the gubernatorial candidate, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu at a separate occasion,” Abubakar said.

    The special assistant added that other PDP members and stakeholders recently received by the APC were from Sokoto North and Wamakko LGAs.

    He said all the new members were warmly received and assured of equal treatment with other members of the party, while declaring their total support towards the success of APC at all levels.

  • Sokoto State Govt faults poverty rating

    Sokoto State Govt faults poverty rating

    The Sokoto Government has faulted the recent ranking of as poorest state in the federation.

    Alhaji Arzika Bodinga, the Permanent Secretary in the Sokoto State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, expressed the displeasure at a one-day Workshop on Dissemination of 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)/ National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS) 2021 on Tuesday in Sokoto.

    Newsmen reports that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that 133 million about 63 per cent of Nigerians are suffering from multidimensional poverty, with children constituting more than half of poor people in the country.

    “We are pleading for more serious scrutiny on the figure, rankings, I dare the agency to come up with data of any person found dead on account of hunger along township streets including rural areas across the state.

    ”Go to the Specialist Hospital, Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital all in Sokoto and monitor how our people trooping in to donate blood.

    ” Welfare of citizens is not compatible to the related figure and we will continue to push for more positive results.
    ”We facilitated enactment of food and nutrition policies, the Conditional Cash Transfers Scheme, Water and Sanitation Health (WASH) facilities and many social protection policies, ” he added.

    The permanent secretary urged the relevant authorities to cross check thier findings, shun political infiltrations, foul play and other short changes that might subjunctive in the findings.

    However, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, Hajia A’Isha Dantsoho, called for immediate action to reverse the situation.

    Dantsoho said authorities needed to copy from other states how they go about in handling thier activities to overcome such challenges.

    The presented documents, she said, would serve as a parameter to such surveys and other considerations to achieve results.

    A Lead facilitator, Dr Danjuma Almustapha, presented documents and measures undertaken to achieve the MICS/NICS 2021.

    Almustapha presented comparative results of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states, and led participants into discussion mostly centered on the need for officials to redouble efforts on implementation of policies.

    Newsmen reports that the NBS disclosed this in its 2022 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) indicated that 86 million poor people live in the North while 47 million live in the South.

    In the least-poor zone, the South West, the MPI of 0.151 shows that poor people experience 15 per cent of possible deprivations, while in North East and North West, the MPI of 0.324 shows they experience over 32 per cent of possible deprivations.

    According to the report, poverty levels across states vary significantly, with the incidence of multidimensional poverty ranging from a low of 27 per cent in Ondo to a high of 91 per cent in Sokoto state.

    Newsmen reports that a breakdown of the dimensions of poverty used for the MPI includes: Nutrition, Food insecurity, Time to healthcare, School attendance, Years of schooling and School lag.

    Others are Water, Water reliability, Sanitation, Housing materials, Cooking fuel, Assets, Unemployment, Underemployment, Security shock and others.

  • 2023: Prominent PDP elder in Sokoto defects to APC

    2023: Prominent PDP elder in Sokoto defects to APC

    Ahead of the 2023 General Elections, one of the prominent elders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto state, Alhaji Sahabi Bojo-Bodinga, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Bojo-Bodinga, a PDP stalwart from Sokoto South Senatorial District was received by the APC leader in the state, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto North) at his residence, on Friday in Sokoto.

    This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday by Bashar Abubakar, the Special Adviser, New Media to Wamakko.

    Abubakar said the event was witnessed by Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, the APC governorship candidate in the state and many other prominent APC loyalists.

    He quoted the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Isa Sadiq-Achida, while speaking on behalf of the party as assuring the new member and his supporters of equal treatment with all other members.

    This is a great development for our party and I am certain that with the caliber of personalities the APC has continued to received ahead of the General Elections, we are truly blessed.

    “I am truly confident that the defection of Bojo-Bodinga, is a good omen for the APC and an indication of the party’s victory at all levels,” he said.

    On his part, Bojo-Bodinga said that he and his teeming PDP supporters across the state had left the party for APC for good.

  • NDLEA arrests traditional ruler. others for drug trafficking

    NDLEA arrests traditional ruler. others for drug trafficking

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested one Abubakar Ibrahim, the village head of Gidan Abba, Bodinga Local Government Area of Sokoto, with 10 others over 991,320 pills of pharmaceutical opioids.

    A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja, said 1,251kgs of cannabis and Khat were recovered.

    Babafemi said that the suspect,  Ibrahim, 38, was arrested in Bodinga town with 3kgs of cannabis sativa and 4,000 tablets of exol-5.

    He said that NDLEA operatives attached to Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) import shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, also intercepted 15 cartons.

    According to Babafemi, the cartons which were intercepted on Oct. 26, contained 802,000 pills of Tramadol, imported from Dubai, UAE and Karachi, Pakistan.

    He also said that 10 cartons of Tramadol 225mg, came in from Dubai on Ethiopian Airlines flight.

    The NDLEA Director for Media and Advocacy, added that four cartons of 100mg and a carton of 225mg Tramadol came from Karachi, Pakistan on another Ethiopian Airlines flight.

    According to him, on the same day, operatives at the SAHCO export shed intercepted cans of tomato paste going to the United Kingdom.

    “A thorough search of the consignment revealed that the tomato cans were used to conceal 36 pellets of cannabis.

    “This was with a gross weight of 21.30 kilograms, while a cargo agent, Sodehinde Akinwale, has also been arrested in connection with the seizure.

    “Two days after, Oct. 25, operatives attached to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO) import shed of the Lagos airport, also seized five cartons of dried khat leaves.

    “This was also weighing 107.70kgs that came in from Bangkok, Thailand, through Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight, ” he said.

    Babafemi said that a follow-up operation on the seizure of 11.90kgs Meth concealed in the heads of dried fish going to Dubai, UAE on August 5, had also  led to the arrest of a 30-year-old bricklayer, Babatunde Mamowora.

    He said that the suspect was arrested on Oct. 27 in Sango Ota area of Ogun, in collaboration with men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the area.

  • Police arrest man with 101 Permanent Voters Cards

    Police arrest man with 101 Permanent Voters Cards

    The Police in Sokoto State have arrested a man, Nasiru Idris, of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, alleged to be in possession of  101 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).

    Briefing journalists on Thursday in Sokoto, shortly after decorating six newly promoted officers in the command, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel, said that the suspect was arrested on Oct. 10 at Sabon Birni.

    Gumel said that the arrest of the suspect followed a tipoff by a credible source.

    “It is envisaged that owners of these cards are not only from Sabon Birni local government, but could be from other parts of the state because we could not trace the rightful owners of the PVCs,” he said.

    The CP called on the public, especially those whose cards were either missing or misplaced to come to the command headquarters and check.

    Gumel said that the command will return the unclaimed cards to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Earlier, the CP had enjoined the newly promoted officers to live up to expectations and view their new ranks as challenge for more productive engagements in the service.

  • 2023: APC, PDP trade blames in Sokoto

    2023: APC, PDP trade blames in Sokoto

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto state has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government in the state of plotting to deny the citizens’ freedom of political choice.

    Alhaji Isa Sadiq-Achida, the Sokoto State APC Chairman made the allegation in a statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday.

    According to him,”the PDP-led government in the state has lost the popular support of the people due to its bad governance.

    “Out of desperation and frustration, the party resorted to unwholesome and unconventional arm twisting methods, to force people into voting them in the forthcoming elections.

    “The state government, through the Local Government Councils is threatening and intimidating traditional and religious leaders as well as businessmen into supporting and campaigning for PDP.

    “As a party ,we view this as an attempt to use false propaganda to dent the good image of our leaders and at the same time, cripple democracy in Sokoto State,” he said.

    Sadiq-Achida urged the state government to remember that traditional and religious leaders were fathers to all, politicians and non-politicians alike.

    The chairman also said that another disturbing issue on the part of the state government was withholding the salaries of junior LG staff.

    “This is for no reason, other than PDP’s political persuasion. The question begging for answer is, when did the expression of one’s political preference become a punishable offence? ,” he asked.

    Sadiq-Achida further alleged that the state government had adopted some discriminatory actions against the billboards hoisted by candidates of the APC.

    “It has been observed that while the Blbillboards of its favoured candidates are left standing and protected, those of the APC candidates are selectively targeted for removal.

    “The selective action is more likely to pollute the current peaceful political atmosphere, than enhance a robust and democratic electioneering process,” he warned.

    Sadiq-Achida also advised the state government to concentrate more on the completion of its abandoned project “rather than embarking on reckless appointments of Special Advisers.”

    Reacting, Malam Hassan Sanyinnawal, the spokesman of the PDP in the state described APC’s allegations as baseless.

    “The state government under the leadership of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, has always respected the traditional institution in the state and never threatened any leader, let alone sack any,” he said.

    On the alleged withholding of salaries, Sanyinnawal said, “the APC should be reminded that their party’s Secretary was still on the payroll of the state government.

    “Yet, his salary has not been withheld by the government even for a month, not to talk of other civil servants in the state.

    “Therefore, the APC should not subject itself to cheap mischief following the fear of the might of the PDP in Sokoto,” he said.

    Also speaking to NAN, Alhaji Sidi Lamido, the Special Advisor to Gov. Tambuwal on State Urban and Regional Planning Board (SURPB), said the claim on the discriminatory actions against billboards of APC was false.

    “As a board, we work with security agencies and all necessary stakeholders to ensure law and order are fully adhered to.

    “We invited all the political parties to a meeting where a unanimous agreement was reached that any party willing to erect a billboard must seek approval before doing so.

    “So, you see, any violation of such agreement will be addressed officially without any discrimination as alleged by the APC,” he said.

  • ASUU strike: Final year medical student turned food vendor dies

    ASUU strike: Final year medical student turned food vendor dies

    Mr. Usman Abubakar-Rimi, a Medicine and Surgery final year student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), who ventured into food selling business due to prolonged ASUU strike, has died.

    Abubakar-Rimi opened a food outlet and Indomie joint in the Diplomat area in Sokoto.

    Tthe medical student died on Wednesday after a brief illness.

    The death was confirmed to NAN on Saturday by the Chairman of 21st Century Enterprenuer Hub, Umar Idris, a close associate of the deceased.

    Idris said the deceased had been buried according to Islamic rites in his hometown, Rimi, in Rimi Local Government Area of Katsina state.

    He described the deceased as a humble person and a dedicated student and enterprenuer.

    According to him, the deceased was Katsina State Coordinator of the 21st Century Entrepreneurs Hub, and actively participated in coordinating Global Entrepreneurship activities in 2019 and 2020.

    He added that the deceased also coordinated Young CEOs Meetup in Katsina, the largest CEOs gathering in Katsina from 2019 and 2020, as well as several other skills acquisition trainings.

    He noted that during Abubakar-Rimi’s leadership, the 21st Century Entrepreneurs Hub in Katsina empowered about 1,000 women and youths on various business skills.

    Recall that during an exclusive interview with the deceased on Sept. 9, 2022,  he said that the prolonged industrial action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) gave him the opportunity to begin the food business.

    The deceased said he utilised the period of the COVID-19 lockdown to start an egg and chicken distribution business.

    Abubakar-Rimi had advised students to utilise their free time to engage in businesses, stressing that online services provided a lot of opportunities to leverage on.

  • 16 APC excos in Sokoto defect to PDP

    16 APC excos in Sokoto defect to PDP

    No fewer than 16 executives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) ward in Sokoto State have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Some of the defectors include Aliyu Liman, Adamu Salihu, Alinbo Dan-Tudu, Abdullahi Belbela, Abdu Langebo, Hussain Langebo and Umaru Dadi.

    Others include Abubakar Isa, Agada Lajinge, Usman Kalla, Isa Suleiman, Yawale Isa, Jadi Abdullahi and Aminu Makuwana, all from Lajinge and Makuwana wards of Sabon Birni LGA.

    PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, who received the new members of his party yesterday, assured them of equal treatment with all other members of the party.

    Goronyo told the defectors that their decision to join the PDP has bolstered the strength of the party in the journey to the Villa.

    In his words: “In PDP, we treat all our members the same, we always stand on our name for the people, as such I assure you that we will work together for the best future of our state and the country at large.

    “Your decision to join us in this journey is of great concern to us as leaders and I am optimistic that with you on board we will succeed in our struggle,” he said.

    A statement by Hassan Sahabi Sayinnawal on behalf of Goronyo, said the chairman further called on them to continue to educate the general public on the legacy projects and initiatives of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal’s led administration in the state.

    Speaking in his remarks on behalf of the new members, Alhaji Garba Dan-Sanda, said their decision to join the PDP is best on the track of record they identified in the led government of the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Dan-Sanda assured all of them of working closely with the PDP leadership in the ward, local government and state to ensure its success during the 2023 general elections.

    He appreciated Goronyo, the PDP’s Chairman for receiving them and giving them more courage to be part of the party’s struggle ahead of the 2023 electioneering period.