TheNewsGuru

Tag: Zamfara State

  • Zamfara govt declares work-free week for PVC registration

    Zamfara govt declares work-free week for PVC registration

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has declared a work-free week to enable public and civil servants to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Card (PVCs).

    The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Dosara, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Gusau.

    “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has declared next week, Monday to Friday June 20 to 24, as work-free week.

    “This is to enable the state public and civil servants to go to their respective localities to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    “By this announcement, all Commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, other public office holders, party officials, and traditional rulers are hereby directed to monitor and supervise the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise,”

    According to him, the community leaders are expected to ensure that eligible voters within their wards and local government areas register and obtain their PVCs.

    ‘This, he said is to enable them to exercise their fundamental rights and civic responsibilities.

  • SAD: Zamfara longest serving emir dies at 93

    SAD: Zamfara longest serving emir dies at 93

    The longest serving emir in Zamfara, Emir of Kwatarkwashi in Bungudu Local Government Area, Alhaji Ahmad Umar (Mai-Kwatarshi),  died on Thursday at 93, having been on the throne for 61 years.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, who disclosed this in a public announcement, said the emir died after a prolonged illness at 93.

    Balatabe said his funeral prayer was conducted at 6:30 p.m. in the historic town of Kwatarkwashi according to Islamic rites.

    Recall that Mai Kwatarkwashi was crowned by Sultan Abubakar III on March 17, 1961 and died in his palace.

    Until his death, he was the eldest Emir in Zamfara State having spent 61 years on the throne.

  • 44 killed as rival Zamfara bandits clash

    Forty-four bandits have been feared killed in Zamfara State in inter-group clashes.

    The face-off, TheNewsGuru.com has learnt took place in Shinkafi Local Government Area of the State.

    Indigenous people of the area told our correspondent that the fight broke out between the two rival groups near Maniya village of LGA.

    Bello Turji, who is a notorious leader of one of the groups is said to be leading his gagng while the other group was led by another kingpin, Dullu.

    ALSO READ: Eight doctors test positive for Coronavirus in Zamafara

    A resident of the area, Umar Khamisu said the two groups engaged in a serious fight as a result of the killing of Turji’s relatives who were on their way to Kano to receive medical attention.

    He maintained that Turji’s relatives were attacked and killed along Shinkafi-Kaura-Namoda road on their way to Kano by the bandits under the leadership of the other notorious bandits’ leader.

    Khamisu this development led Turji to mobilise his men and moved to Dullu’s camp in Maniya forest to avenge the killing of his relatives.

    He said The two groups fought for two days between Monday and last Tuesday where scores were killed with several others injured.

    TheNewsGuru.com further learnt that that both sides have recorded several casualties and Dullu was killed during the encounter.

    “Information also reached us that Turji lost 16 people while 28 were Killed from Dullu’s camp including Dullu himself.”

    According to him, Dullu was caught alive by Turji’s boys and later shot dead.
    A farmer, who gave his name as Samaila, said, “We were on our farms on Tuesday when we saw several bandits on motorcycles moving towards the forest.”

    “As we were about to run for our dear lives, one of the bandits told us that we should not panic.”

    “A few minutes later, we heard several gunshots in the forest and we realised that Turji’s boys have attacked Dullu’s camp.”
    The spokesperson of the state police command, SP Mohammed Shehu, told The PUNCH that he was not in the full picture of the incident.

    “I don’t have full details of this incident but I will brief you more when I get to the office later today.”

  • We arrested ex-Zamfara Gov over links to N84bn fraud – EFCC

    We arrested ex-Zamfara Gov over links to N84bn fraud – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it arrested former Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara over alleged involvement in the N84 billion fraud allegation against the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris.

    An authoritative source in the EFCC disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja, saying the Chairman and Managing Director of Finex Professional, Mr Anthony Yaro was also arrested alongside the former governor.

    He said the duo were arrested on Sunday over their alleged role in the fraud allegation.

    According to the source, Yari who was picked up at about 5 pm on Sunday, allegedly benefited to the tune of N22 billion through Finex Professional.

    The source said the amount was paid to one Akindele by the former AGF from the N84 billion through Finex Professional.

    Recall the former AGF was arrested on May 16 over alleged diversion and laundering of N84 billion.

    Verified intelligence reports showed that Idris allegedly raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates.

    Reports said the funds were laundered through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

  • 2 ex-ministers win Zamfara PDP Senate tickets

    2 ex-ministers win Zamfara PDP Senate tickets

    Alhaji Ikira Bilbis, Minister in the defunct Ministry of Information and Communications has emerged as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer on Tuesday for Zamfara Central Senatorial district for the 2023 general election.

    The district covers Gusau, Tsafe, Maru and Bungudu Local Government Areas.

    Bilbis scored 114 votes to beat his closest rival Alhaji Lawal Barau who scored 17 votes.

    Alhaji Kabiru Usman, chairman of the Senate PDP Primaries released the result of the contest.

    Usman also announced former Minister of State, Environment and current PDP chairman in Zamfara, retired Col. Bala Mande, as the flag bearer for the PDP in Zamfara North Senatorial district.

    Mande was retuned unopposed through the party’s consensus arrangement, Usman said.

    The Zamfara North Senatorial district covers Birnin Magaji, Kaura-Namoda, Shinkafi and Zurmi Local Government Areas.

    Also Alhaji Bello S-Fagon also emerged as the party’s standard bearer for the Zamfara West Senatorial district.

    Zamfara West covers Talata Marafa, Bakura, Maradun, Gumi, Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas.

    The PDP in Zamfara began primary elections with the House of Assembly and the House Representatives on Monday.

    The results for the House of Assembly and the House of Representatives are still being awaited.

    Usman said the results were still being collated and assured that they would be announced to the media as soon as they were ready.

    The conduct of the primaries was peaceful.

  • 23,000 students set to miss 2022 WAEC exam in Zamfara

    23,000 students set to miss 2022 WAEC exam in Zamfara

    In Zamfara state about 23, 000 SS3 students are set to miss this year’s West Africa Senior Secondary School Examination (WAEC) over the inability of the state government to pay their exam fees.

    WAEC authorities have said that the students will not be allowed to write exams based on the fact that Zamfara state government refused to pay their exam fees to the appropriate quarters.

    Addressing pressmen in Gusau, the state capital, Deputy Registrar of WAEC , Mr Olufemi Bamigboye, mentioned via a press statement that the state was still owing examination fees for 2019, 2020 and 2021.

    He added that the amount owed WAEC has added up to1.6 billion naira and the state couldn’t even pay the current exam fees for this year.

    “With less than four days to the examinations for the year 2022, the final year students of public schools in the state have not knоwn their fate as the state government has not met with the requirements of the council”

    “The state government has not formally registered its candidates in the public schools for the 2022 examinations talk of paying the arrears owed”

    It was gathered that Zamfara State has a policy of paying WAEC and NECO examination fees for students in its public schools but has been owing the council a backlog of arrears.

    “We registered Zamfara State Students last year following intervention from some notable Nigerians that the state government will settle us including that of 2019 and 2020 but till this moment nothing is done and no sign of the payment”, Bamigboye added.

    ” The State government is still owing us examination fees for three years which is about one billion six hundred and five thousand (N1, 650,000) naira,” Bamigboye said.

    He also confirmed that the results of students who sat for examinations since 2019 have not been released due to the accumulated debts which he said the State government refuses to offset.

    “Results of students of Zamfara State public school who sat for exams in 2019, 2020 and 2021 are still with WAEC as the government refused to pay the money”

    He said that he was worried over the nonparticipation of students in this year’s WAEC examinations and results being withheld for three years may contribute to the insecurity bedevilling the state

    According to him, a total of 1,607,975 candidates from 20, 221 schools across the country registered for this year’s WASSCE which will begin by Monday, May 16, 2022.

    “Except There is an intervention those students will miss their exams” He said

  • 102 Zamfara groups to purchase N50m nomination form for Matawalle

    102 Zamfara groups to purchase N50m nomination form for Matawalle

    Non – Governmental Organisations and groups, totaling 102 groups in Zamfara State have contributed the sum of N50 million to Governor Bello Matawalle to purchase the 2023 All Progressives Congress governorship nomination form.

    This was contained in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Yusuf Idris and made available to the Newsguru.com.

    According to the statement, the cheque would be handed over to Governor Matawalle today (Friday) at the Government House in Gusau the state capital.

    ALSO READ: Powerful indigenes are behind banditry in Zamfara – Matawalle

    According to Idris, a grand rally would be organised by the state APC officials for the presentation of the N50 million cheque to the Governor.

    Idris said members of the party, supporters and well wishers would converge at the Gusau Eid praying ground by 8 o’clock in the morning on Friday for onward movement to the Government House, Gusau, for the presentation of the N50m cheque.

    According to him, “Having expressed confidence and satisfaction in the positively focused leadership of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, 102 groups jointly contributed the sum of N50 million with the aim of supporting the Governor for the purchase of the 2023 APC Governorship Nomination Form.

    “It is in the light of this that the APC in the state is inviting all party members, supporters and admirers to the formal presentation of the N50 million cheque to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, under the leadership of the state APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani.

    “All attendees are expected to gather at the Gusau Eid Praying Ground by 8:00 am on Friday, May 6, 2022, for onward movement and presentation of the form at the Government House, Gusau,” thenewsgiri.com was told.

  • Ex- Zamfara gov, Yari and Sen. Mafara dump APC for PDP

    Ex- Zamfara gov, Yari and Sen. Mafara dump APC for PDP

    Former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul Aziz Yari, Senator Kabiru Garba Mafara and their supporters have finally left the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

     

    Addressing newsmen in Gusau, the State capital on Sunday, the PDP Chairman, Bala Mande said, the party has received Yari, Marafa and other top APC members who have defected to the PDP with their teeming supporters.

     

    “We want to officially announce to you of the joining of our great party, the PDP, by the former Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Yari, Senator Kabiru Garba Mafara and their supporters.

     

    “They are now PDP members, we have reached an agreement and we are going to implement the agreement.

     

    “We have agreed to work together as one political entity in one party, the PDP for the success of the party in the State.

     

    “We have also agreed to work extra hard to reclaim the lost mandate of Zamfara State in 2023 and save its people from their present predicament.

     

    “I have given the stakeholders a complete update of where we are as a result of this development.”

     

    The chairman noted that the two political heavyweights in the State would be officially received in Gusau, the State capital

  • Borno Governor Zulum, shares 275million, food, clothes to IDP

    Borno Governor Zulum, shares 275million, food, clothes to IDP

    The Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum,has made provisions for 90,000 internally displaced household at the sum of 275 million naira.

    Zulum who supervised the disbursement and distribution of items to the abode of displaced people of the state expressed desire to do more.

    Zulum, after interacting with the IDPs and returning refugees in Monguno on Friday, supervised the distribution of wrapper, sugar, and N5,000 each to 55,000 women, making a total of N275 million.

    The Borno governor has sustained this tradition for three years as part of multi-faced efforts to cushion the effects and wreckage caused by Boko Haram attacks.

     

    Through the intervention, the government also supports the people with livelihoods as they gradually transit into farming, micro, small, and medium scale businesses in order to eventually cater to themselves.

    According to a statement released on Saturday by Zulum’s spokesman, Mallam Isa Gusau, the cash support has also been an effective tool in fighting Boko Haram’s ability to recruit spies from extremely poor and vulnerable communities.

    The Borno State Government said that over seven hundred thousand people are currently displaced from their homes due to banditry and are now taking refuge in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state

    The figure comprised of over 184,000 and over 600,000 women and children.

  • Bandits abduct four female students in Zamfara College

    Bandits abduct four female students in Zamfara College

    About four students of the College of Science and Health Technology in Tsafe, Zamfara State have been reportedly kidnapped by suspected bandits.

    Report has it that bandits stormed the college and took away the female boarding students from their hostel.

    Findings have shown that the kidnappers already made contacts with the parents of their abductees demanding undisclosed amount as ransom.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred Tuesday night when they stormed the college with sophisticated weapons to whisk away the female students.

    As at the time of filing this report Zamfara state police command is yet to comment on the issue.