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Tag: Yobe

  • [Photos]: Buhari meets Yobe leaders, vows to ensure release of all abducted girls

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday assured leaders in Yobe state that he will not rest until all the girls abducted in Dapchi area of the State are released.

    Buhari made the remark during a town hall meeting with traditional, community leaders and other stakeholders in the State.

    “There will be no rest till the last girl, whether from Chibok and Dapchi, is released. The girls, like all our citizens, must enjoy unhindered freedom and pursue their legitimate aspirations.” — President

    “Due to our commitment, over 100 Chibok girls have been rescued and reunited with their families, sent back to school and empowered with requisite skills.

    “You may recall that recently, our negotiation efforts led to the release of abducted University of Maiduguri lecturers, some women Police personnel, students and even an NYSC member.

    “We, therefore, have no doubt that the Dapchi girls will be rescued or released. I can reassure parents, Nigerians and the International Community that we will do all that is within our power to make sure that the girls are brought back safely to their families

    See photos:

  • Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting as Buhari visits Yobe

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting as President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on visit to Yobe in continuation of his tour of troubled areas in the country.

    The President, who left the Presidential Villa for Damaturu, Yobe, at about 9.10a.m., is expected to meet and address traditional rulers and opinion leaders as well as parents of the missing Dapchi schoolgirls.

    Buhari had earlier visited Taraba and Benue States where he met and condoled with governors and people of the states over recent incidents that led to tragic loss of lives and destruction of properties worth millions of Naira.

    The President is also billed to visit Zamfara and Rivers States over recent terrorist attacks and criminal activities in the States.

    It would be recalled that an alleged notorious armed bandit in Zamfara, Buhari Tsoho, popularly known as Buharin Daji, believed to have been terrorising Zamfara communities for several months was on March 7 killed by repentant cattle rustlers in the state.

    Tsoho’s death was confirmed by the state government after parading his corpse in Gusau, the state capital, a day after he was killed.

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would today update the FEC on its activities since Nov. 2015.

  • Abduction: Heavy security as Buhari meets Dapchi girls’ parents in Yobe today

    President Muhammadu Buhari wil today meet with parents of the 110 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram on February 19 in Dapchi, Yobe State.

    Recall that the President had earlier visited Taraba, Plateau and Benue states, where killings by herdsmen took place. He is also due to visit Niger State Thursday.

    The Yobe State government officials on Tuesday said the President is not likely to visit Dapchi, unless there is a last-minute change in plans.

    The chairman of the Forum of Dapchi Abducted School Girls Parents, Bashir Manzo confirmed the meeting with the president.

    “Yes, we have been contacted to meet with the President tomorrow in Damaturu. I am leaving Dapchi today to sleep in Damaturu.”

    He also urged the president to work fast in trying to rescue their daughters and reunite them with their parents.

    Some of the parents of the abducted girls also confirmed that they had been invited to the Government House in Damaturu for the meeting.

    “For us the parents of the missing girls, Our message to him is very clear; he should ensure that our daughters return safe and on time to us,” one of the parents said.

    President Buhari on Monday told outgoing United State Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, that he preferred to negotiate the release of the girls rather than a military option.

    There was heavy security in Damaturu yesterday ahead of the visit.

    A detachment of security personnel including army, police and Civil Defence Corps were deployed in strategic locations.

    The August 27 Stadium where the president is expected to land from an Air force helicopter enroute Maiduguri International Airport had been taken over by security with Armored Carriers mounted at the front of the stadium.

    Some of the parents spoke on their expectations in separate interviews with newsmen in Damaturu.

    Manzo the chairman said to negotiate the release is “a welcome development and we are happy about it.

    “Use of force, as the only option, will result in death of many of the girls while negotiation provides for their safe return.”

    The chairman, who encouraged government to go for dialogue to hasten return of the girls, said “the fact that the insurgents provide room for negotiation gives us hope for safe return of our daughters.”

    Alhaji Baba Shehu, Secretary Dapchi Youth Development Association, also described the negotiation option as a healthy development.

    “Government should deploy resources at its disposal to take this advantage and ensure safe return of the girls” he said.

    Alhaji Ali Mohammed, a father of eight of the students, described negotiation as the only safe option for the insurgents to release the girls, saying he was happy “government had considered this option of negotiation”.

    Maryam Alkali, a mother, said every mother would appreciate the option that will bring the girls back home safely.

    “Let me state without fear of contradiction that every mother of the abducted girls will now have a strong hope for reunion with these girls” she said.

    Malam Mustapha Imam, another parent, said “If government had resorted to military option alone, it may jeopardize the safety of the girls, so the option of negotiation is a welcome development.”

    He however called on government to take strong precautionary measures in safeguarding every school in the country, especially those in the Northeast.

    “Government has to invest heavily on security, especially in equipment, manpower and intelligence gathering for improved security,” Imam said

  • Dapchi abduction: Parents welcome negotiation option to rescue school girls

    Parents of abducted Dapchi schoolgirls in Yobe, on Tuesday, lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for considering the option of negotiation against use of military force to rescue the girls.

    The parents, who spoke separately to News Agency of Nigeria in Damaturu, said the option gave them hope for safe return of the girls.

    Alhaji Bashir Manzo, chairman, parents association of the abducted schoolgirls, said “this is a welcome development and we are happy about it.

    “Use of force, as the only option, will result in death of many of the girls while negotiation provides for their safe return.”

    The chairman, who encouraged government to go for dialogue to hasten return of the girls, said “the fact that the insurgents provide room for negotiation gives us hope for safe return of our daughters.”

    Alhaji Baba Shehu, Secretary Dapchi Youth Development Association, also described the negotiation option as a healthy development.

    “Government should deploy resources at its disposal to take this advantage and ensure safe return of the girls” he said.

    Alhaji Ali Mohammed, a father of eight of the students, described negotiation as the only safe option for the insurgents to release the girls, saying he was happy “government has considered this option of negotiation”.

    Maryam Alkali, a mother, said every mother would appreciate the option that will bring the girls back home safely.

    “Let me state without fear of contradiction that every mother of the abducted girls will now have a strong hope for reunion with these girls” she said.

    Malam Mustapha Imam, another parent, said “If government had resorted to military option alone, it may jeopardize the safety of the girls, so the option of negotiation is a welcome development.”

    He however called on government to take strong precautionary measures in safeguarding every school in the country, especially those in the Northeast.

    “Government has to invest heavily on security, especially in equipment, manpower and intelligence gathering for improved security,” Imam said.

    President on Monday, while receiving US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said the federal government had considered the option of negotiation to rescue the abducted students.

     

  • Sukuk fund yields expected results in Yobe – Works Controller

    Mr Olusegun Akinmade, the Federal Controller of Works in Yobe State says the injection of Sukuk fund into the Federal Government ongoing road project in the state is yielding expected results.

    Akinmade said this on Sunday in Potiskum during an inspection of the ongoing federal government road projects in the Northeast.

    Sukuk are Islamic bonds, structured to generate returns to investors without infringing Islamic law that prohibits interest on loans.

    The tour was led by Mr Mohammed Rufai, the North-East Zonal Director of Highways, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

    Recalls that the Federal Government in October 2017, released N100 billion to contractors for construction and rehabilitation of 25 road projects across the country.

    Akinmade said N4 billion was allocated to section four of the ongoing Kano-Maiduguri dualisation project.

    The controller said the section covers Potiskum to Damaturu while the entire project run through five states; Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno states.

    “The injection of the N4 billion Sukuk fund allocated to Potiskum-Damaturu section of the dualisation project performed critical wonders.

    “With the N4 billion, the contractor was able to construct additional 20.5 kilometres of single lane carriage way from start to finish.

    “We hope and solicit that the tempo be maintained because the contractor has virtually finished his own allocation of the Sukuk,” he said.

    Akinmade said the project was delayed because of funding and the security challenges in the Northeast, adding that the situation had improved and would enhance the completion of the project.

    The controller said the contract has reach 62.5 per cent completion, pointing out that it would be completed on schedule with sustained funding.

    According to him, the project has created over 400 direct and indirect employments for youths along its corridor.

     

  • Dapchi Girls’ abduction: NAF denies deploying 100 aircraft to Yobe

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Wednesday denied sending 100 aircraft to Yobe State in search of the abducted girls in Dapchi.

    Recall that there were reports in some sections of the media of the deployment of 100 aircraft in an intensified approach to finding the girls.

    This was revealed in a statement signed and sent to TheNewsGuru.com on Wednesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the force, AVM Adetokubo Adesanya.

    The statement reads:

    NIGERIAN AIR FORCE DID NOT DEPLOY 100 AIRCRAFT FOR SEARCH OF DAPCHI GIRLS

    The attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a statement being circulated to the effect that 100 NAF aircraft had been deployed in search of the missing Dapchi girls. While paying a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of Yobe State, in company of the Chief of the Air Staff, on 27 February 2018, the National Security Adviser, Mohammed Monguno, indeed spoke about the number of sorties so far conducted by NAF aircraft in the course of searching for the missing girls within a stated period. Obviously, the number of sorties does not equate the number of aircraft deployed.

  • UN outraged by Dapchi schoolgirls abduction – Guterres

    UN outraged by Dapchi schoolgirls abduction – Guterres

    The UN has expressed outrage at the abduction of 110 schoolgirls of Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, by suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

    The Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, said in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mr Stephane Dujarric that he “strongly condemns the abduction and attack”.

    Guterres said he was gravely concerned over the situation of the schoolgirls’ abducted during an attack on their educational institution in Dapch, Yobe state, on Feb. 19.

    The Secretary-General called for the immediate and unconditional release of all missing girls and for their safe return to their families.

    The UN chief urged the Nigerian authorities to swiftly bring those responsible for this dastardly act to justice.

    Guterres reiterated the solidarity and support of the UN to Nigerian Government and other affected countries in the region in their fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

    The UN had earlier described the abduction as “another horrific incident where young women and girls are targeted by terror groups”.

    “And we very much hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice, and just as importantly, that the girls will be found and returned to safety.

    “I think the fact that these young women were abducted in an educational setting, where they should have been safe, where they should feel safe, just adds to the horror of the story.”

     

  • FG sets up committee to probe abduction of Dapchi girls

    The Federal Government has set up a 12-member committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abduction of 110 students of the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said the committee was convened by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd).

    He said the committee, which will be chaired by a military officer of the rank of Major-General, comprised one senior Provost each from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force.

    He said other members of the committee included representatives of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA); Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The minister said that the committee also included two representatives of the Yobe State Government and a representative of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

    He said the terms of reference of the Committee included ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the girls.

    He said the committee would confirm the presence, composition, scale and disposition of security emplaced in
    Dapchi and in GGSTC before the incident.

    The minister said the committee would suggest measures that could lead to the location and rescue of the girls and recommend measures to prevent future occurrence.

    He said the committee to be inaugurated on Wednesday is expected to submit its report by March 15.

    Earlier, the federal government released names of the missing girls.

    The list, which the minister said was handed over to him by the Yobe Government, contains the name, age, and class of each of the 110 students.

    Out of the 110 missing girls, eight are said to be in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3.
    Mohammed said that the girls’ ages range from 11 to 19 years.

    The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was said to have been verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

    Meanwhile, Mohammed said that the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Tuesday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

    He said that the Nigerian Air Force had earlier deployed more platforms to the North-East for the search, as the security agencies ramp up their efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

    “As at 6 p.m. on Monday, the NAF had flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search,” Mohammed added.

     

  • #DapchiGirls: Comprehensive list of missing girls

    The Federal Government has released the names and other details of the 110 girls who have yet to be accounted for, following the attack on the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, on 19 Feb. 2018.

    See the full list of the missing girls:

     

  • Dapchi update: FG releases names of missing girls, gives breakdown

    The Federal Government has released the names and other details of the 110 girls who have yet to be accounted for, following the attack on the Government Girls Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, on 19 Feb. 2018.

    The list was contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who has twice led a Federal Government delegation to Yobe since the tragic incident occurred.

    The list, which was handed over to the Minister by the Yobe State Government, contains the name, age and class of each of the 110 students.

    Out of the 110 missing girls, 8 are in JSS1, 17 in JSS2, 12 in JSS3, 40 in SS1, 19 in SS2 and 14 in SS3. The girls’ ages range from 11 to 19 years.

    The list, which also contains the contact address and phone number of each missing girl, was verified by a 26-member Screening Committee that includes the Executive Secretary, State Teaching Service Board, Musa Abdulsalam; Director, Schools’ Management, Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Bulama; Principal of GGSTC, Adama Abdulkarim; the two Vice Principals, Ali Musa Mabu and Abdullahi Sule Lampo; Admission Officer, Bashir Ali Yerima, and the Form Masters for all the classes.

    Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Tuesday relocated to Yobe State to personally superintend the search for the girls.

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier deployed more platforms to the North east for the search, as the security agencies ramp up their efforts to locate and rescue the girls.

    As at 6 pm on Monday, the NAF had flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search

    See comprehensive list of missing girls.