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Tag: Zamfara State

  • Ex-Zamfara commissioner raises alarm over threat to life

    Ex-Zamfara commissioner raises alarm over threat to life

    A former Commissioner of Information in Zamfara and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaliki, has raised alarm over threats to his life by unknown gunmen.

    Danmaliki stated this in a letter in which he reported to the state police command and State Director, Department of State Security Services (DSS), and made available to journalists in Gusau, on Monday.

    “The letter reads, as: “this is to inform you of how unidentified persons fired shots of live ammunition into my house, opposite Federal Medical Centre, Gusau”.

    “On Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. about 10 am members of my family called me, while I was in Abuja, and reported the unfortunate incident to me that a gunshot was heard in my premises.

    “Later a live ammunition was found in my house and the bullet pierced through the roofing of the house”, he said.

    “I am therefore calling for urgent attention by the state police command and state’s DSS office on this matter, so that my life and my family could be saved”, Danmaliki explained.

    Meanwhile, confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Muhammad Shehu, said the Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah had already received the complaint from the former commissioner.

    Shehu added that the police commissioner had already directed an investigation of the matter.

  • Court strikes out suit against Gov Matawalle’s defection to APC

    Court strikes out suit against Gov Matawalle’s defection to APC

    Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara, on Monday struck out the suit filed against Gov Bello Matawalle and four others for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2021.

    Justice Aminu Bappah Aliyu while ruling on the suit on Monday said the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    The organising summons in the suit no FHC/GS/CS/14/2021 was filed by one Alhaji Bashir Saleh, Ibrahim Muhammed Turaki and Andulhamid Haruna in the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, Zamfara.

    The plaintiffs had prayed the court to declare that the first and second defendants, Gov Bello Matawalle and Alhaji Mahdi Aliyu Gusau who won the election on the platform of PDP to vacate office following their defection to the APC on June 29, 2021.

    The plaintiffs, through their counsel, J. C Shaka, however, amended the originating summon and excluded the second defendant and deputy governor for remaining in the PDP.

    The plaintiffs had joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Attorney General of the Federation as third, fourth and fifth defendants respectively in the suit.

    They had asked the court to restrain the fourth and fifth defendants from recognizing and dealing the first and second defendants among other prayers.

    In his ruling, Aliyu, said that the original summons filed by the plaintiffs lacked merit as the matter before the court was neither election matter nor election process.

    Aliyu ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

    He further ruled that the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria did not, in any way, prohibit any person from joining any association or political party of his choice.

    Aliyu said it was only an election tribunal or state House of Assembly that could remove a governor from office.

    The court, therefore, awarded the cost of N1m to each of the defendants to be paid by the plaintiffs.

    Mike Ezeokhome, SAN who represented the Gov Matawalle and the APC commended the court for ruling in favour of his clients, while J.C Shaka said the plaintiffs would study the judgement for further action.

  • PDP warns against moves to impeach Zamafara Deputy Governor

    PDP warns against moves to impeach Zamafara Deputy Governor

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Saturday cautioned the Zamafara House of Assembly against fresh moves to impeach the Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau.

    The party gave the caution in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Saturday.

    The PDP called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) to immediately intervene in the problem.

    The party described the alleged move as undemocratic and illegal, saying any assault on democracy should be halted forthwith in Zamfara state.

    The party said the process of impeachment is currently on in spite of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/ 650/2021.

    He warned that such a move portends what he called “grave implication for peace and security not only in Zamfara but also in the entire North West region as well as the continued sustenance of democracy in our country”.

    The party also described it as panic move by Gov. Bello Matawalle whom it said “realization that the mandate given to the PDP but was taken to the APC is on the verge of being recovered through the legal process.”

    The party said that the PDP believed that Matawalle had violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), by moving to the APC when there was no division in the PDP.

    “Gov. Matawalle should note that the people of Zamfara State are solidly with the Deputy Governor, who enjoys large political following in the State as the custodian of the PDP mandate after Matawalle’s defection to the APC.

    “As such, any action against the Deputy Governor amounts to a direct assault on the will of the people which they will firmly resist.

    “Any attempt, therefore, to strip the Deputy Governor of the mandate of the people on the grounds of baseless and unfounded allegations is a recipe for serious crisis that can result in the complete breakdown of law and order in the State.“

    Ologunagba also advised the State House of Assembly not to allow itself to be pitched against the people and destroy the State.

    The party also called on the Inspector-General of Police to note how the situation is becoming a security threat in Zamfara and the entire North West region, “where the lives of PDP members and other well-meaning citizens of Zamfara are being threatened”.

    The Party alleged that members of the PDP Zamfara State Working Committee particularly, the State Deputy Chairman, Prof. Kabiru Jabaka, has been forced to relocate out of the State over threats to his life.

    The Zamfara House of Assembly on Friday said it received from its deputy speaker, Musa Bawa, a document seeking to impeach the deputy governor, Alhaji Mahdi Aliyu.

  • Buhari shelves Zamfara’s visit over poor weather

    Buhari shelves Zamfara’s visit over poor weather

    President Muhammadu Buhari has rescheduled his one-day working visit to Zamfara, due to bad weather condition, an official has said.

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, said this when he spoke with newsmen in Gusau on Thursday, saying the president’s plane could not land at the 207 Quick Response Unit of Nigerian Air Force, Gusau, due to poor visibility.

    Matawalle said Buhari was originally scheduled to arrive Gusau aboard a helicopter after an official visit to Sokoto, saying however, that the trip was cancelled due to poor visibility.

    “Mr president has spoken to me and asked me to convey his apology to the good people of the state.

    “The president said he would reschedule his visit to the state for next week and a date would be communicated to us in due course,” he said.

    The governor said that security chiefs who were billed to receive the President in Gusau were also stranded in Katsina due to bad weather.

    “The chiefs are currently in Katsina but can’t fly to Zamfara for the same reason.

    “Based on this, we are extending our apologies to the good people of the state over the postponement for reason beyond our control.

    “We thank Mr President for his love for the state,” Matawalle said.

    The President was expected in the state on a working visit to commiserate with the victims of Jan. 5 bandits’ attack which affected eight communities in Anka and Bukuyum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state among others.

  • Police rescue 97 persons from Zamfara forest

    Police rescue 97 persons from Zamfara forest

    Police in Zamfara have secured the freedom of 97 persons from captivity in Shinkafi and Tsafe forest of the state.

    The Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba El-Kana made the disclosure at a news conference in Gusau on Tuesday.

    El-Kana said the rescue was the outcome of the extensive pressure mounted on bandits as a result of the ongoing military operation around the camp of a notorious bandit, known as Bello Turji that covered Shinkafi, Zurmi, and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas.

    Recall that on Jan. 3, Police Tactical Operatives deployed at Shinkafi axis, received an intelligence report that some kidnapped victims were seen stranded in the bush.

    The police operatives in collaboration with genuine repentant bandits and vigilantes, swung into action and rescued 68 victims from the forest.

    The commissioner added that the victims were in captivity for over three months and they included; 33 male adults, seven male children, three female children, and 25 women comprising of pregnant and nursing mothers.

    The rescued victims were held from Magarya, Maradun, Gusau local government areas of Zamfara , and Sabon Birni LGA in Sokoto State.

    El-Kana also disclosed that on the same Monday, Jan. 3, Police Tactical operatives deployed in Tsafe axis, acted on intelligence report and stormed Kunchin Kalgo forest in Tsafe LGA, and rescued 29 kidnapped victims unconditionally.

    He said that the victims were in captivity for over 60 days and were captured from three villages.

    The CP said the villages were Adarawa, Gana, and Bayawuri in Rijiya District of Gusau LGA, adding that 25 female of both pregnant and nursing mothers as well as four male children were rescued.

    The victims were said to have been abducted by a Bandits’ kingpin, Ado Aleru.

    El-Kana said that all the rescued victims were currently receiving medical treatment from the joint medical teams of the state government and the police.

    According to him, they will be debriefed, handed over to the state government before being reunited with their families.

  • Atiku condemns unprovoked attack on Zamfara PDP Congress

    Atiku condemns unprovoked attack on Zamfara PDP Congress

    …demands investigation, prosecution of perpetrators

    Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar has condemned what he described as unprovoked attack on Zamfara State PDP Congress by thugs, saying it is a bad omen for our democracy and free and fair elections in the country.

    In a reaction sent through his media office in Abuja, Atiku said that there was no justification for violently attacking members of the opposition by thugs, adding that these kinds of criminal activities should not be tolerated by either the leaders of the ruling party or the opposition.

    The former VP said such open lawlessness by suspected supporters of the ruling party is an invitation to anarchy which will create conditions that make free and fair elections difficult.

    He called on the Inspector General of Police to take immediate action to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the violent attack on the Zamfara State PDP members and supporters.

    Atiku noted that the police should be politically neutral in law enforcement in the country, so that members of the ruling party might not be given the impression that they are above the law.

    He explained that the refusal to arrest and prosecute those involved will encourage future impunity, adding that no group of people should feel unprotected from thuggery because of their political affiliation.

  • Police confirm killing of Zamfara traditional ruler, four others by bandits

    Police confirm killing of Zamfara traditional ruler, four others by bandits

    The Police Command in Zamfara has confirmed the killing of the District Head of Gada in Bungudu local government area of the state, Alhaji Umaru Bawan-Allah and four others.

    The command has also arrested some suspected bandits, rescued 10 kidnapped victims and recovered some arms.

    The Commissioner of police in the state, Ayuba Elkanah disclosed this at a press conference in Gusau on Wednesday.

    Elkanah said, “today at about 0335hrs, armed bandits in large number, invaded Gada Village in Bungudu Local Government Area of the state where they killed the District Head of the area, Alhaji Umaru Bawan-Allah along with four other villagers and kidnapped some community members”.

    “The police tactical operatives in collaboration with the Military and Vigilante responded promptly and engaged the assailants to a serious gun battle.

    “The joint tactical teams were able to disperse the hoodlums and rescued 10 kidnapped victims including a one year old baby.

    “Normalcy has already been restored in the affected area and its environ with improved confidence building patrol by security forces,”.

    According to him, on 28th Dec., 2021 at about 0500hrs, the Police Tactical Operatives deployed along Zurmi Local Government on confidence building patrol acted on intelligence that led to the arrest of a notorious bandit, popularly known as Maiyammata who hails from Mayasa village.

    “The suspect who was arrested while trying to block the road and kidnap commuters at a village called Koliya was a former member of Bello Turji.

    “He is now believed to be operating under another notorious bandit kingpin known as Kachalla Sani-Black who operates along Zurmi, Shinkafi and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas.

    “One AK-47 rifle, double magazines with three rounds of live ammunition and one Boxer motorcycle was recovered from him.

    “He is currently undergoing discreet investigation aimed at arresting his partners in crime, before being charged to Court for prosecution,” Elkanah explained.

  • Bandits order seven Zamfara communities to pay N37m levy within 72hrs

    Bandits order seven Zamfara communities to pay N37m levy within 72hrs

    Bandits in Zamfara have issued Monday ultimatum to seven Zamfara communities to pay levy of N37m or face massive invasions.

    The communities under this unwholesome directive from the bandits camped in Tsafe, include: Bawagauga, Hayin Uda, Ruguza, Dumuyu, Zigau, Mai-Rerai and Gidan Kado.

    A source in the area who confirmed this ugly development said the bandits shared the amount (N37 million) among the communities.

    He revealed the bandits demanded that residents in Bawagauga pay N13 million, Hayin Uda to pay N7 million, Gidan Kado to pay N6 million and Mai-Rerai to pay N4 million while Ruguza, Dumuyu and Zigau were to pay N2 million each.

    It was also revealed that the bandit leader identified as Hassan Bamamu has sometimes ago signed a peace pact with the government of Zamfara State and pledged to desist from banditry activities.

    The source further said that it has already alerted the security authorities about the ultimatum for swift intervention.

    Efforts to get the spokesman of the Zamfara State Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu confirm if it is aware of the ultimatum and measures being put in place to secure the communities proved abortive as he didn’t respond to either text or WhatsApp messages and phone calls put across to his mobile phone.

  • BREAKING: Uzodinma appoints Zamfara Commissioner as Commissioner in Imo

    BREAKING: Uzodinma appoints Zamfara Commissioner as Commissioner in Imo

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has appointed the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs in Zamfara State, Hajiya Rabi Shinkafi as a Commissioner in his State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Shinkafi resigned her Commissioner position in Zamfara to take up the appointment by Governor Uzodinma in Imo.

    According to Shinkafi, both Gov. Hope Uzodinma and his Zamfara counterpart, Governor Bello Matawalle discussed it as fellow All Progressives Congress (APC) governors before the appointment in Imo happened.

    “I resigned my appointment as commissioner in Zamfara to enable me to pick another appointment as commissioner in Imo.

    “I am immensely grateful to Gov. Bello Matawalle and his Wife, Hajiya Aisha Matawalle, for their kindness to me and for giving me the opportunity to serve Zamfara in different capacities.

    “All the speculations in the social media about my resignation are completely false; it was just work of mischief makers.

    “I have a perfect and cordial relationship with the governor and his wife. I consider them as my family and they were in the picture of my going to Imo.

    “Both Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo and Matawalle discussed it as fellow All Progressives Congress governors and as friends too,’’ Shinkafi said.

  • Police rescue 3-month-old baby, 2 adults abducted by bandits in Zamfara

    Police rescue 3-month-old baby, 2 adults abducted by bandits in Zamfara

    The police has rescued a three-month-old baby and seized sophisticated weapons from bandits in Zamfara.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Ayuba Elkanah, made this known during an interview with newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday.

    He said that the victims were abducted from Ruggar Tudu village in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara.
    Elkanah revealed that the police operatives also arrested three suppliers of hard drugs to bandits, and recovered some items from bandits.

    They include one motorcycle, eight AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one Rocket launcher, and five magazines.

    While giving an update on the activities of the police in the last four months, the police commissioner said the State Police Command has recorded tremendous successes in the ongoing war against banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, and other crimes in Zamfara.
    According to him, the police operatives also recovered 69 cows from bandits in the last four months.

    This is even as he reiterated the ban on the use of fireworks in Zamfara with a warning that the police would not spare any person found culpable.

    To ensure a hit-free yuletide season, Elkana assured the people that the police would work in collaboration with other agencies to ensure adequate security in the state.