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Tag: Zamfara

  • Police foil bandits attack in Zamara, rescue kidnap victim

    Police foil bandits attack in Zamara, rescue kidnap victim

    The Police in Zamfara State have foiled an attack by bandits in a community in the outskirts of Shinkafi Local Government Area.

    According to a statement by the PPRO, for the Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Police Command, SP Mohammed Shehu, the incident occurred at about 04:30 am on Saturday.

    SP Shehu said the Command received a distress call that armed bandits in their large number came to the outskirts of Shinkafi with intent to kidnap innocent members of the community.

    But a combined team of PMF/CTU attached to the “Operation Puff Adder” responded quickly and foiled the attack.

    Similarly, one Samaila Langa, a 30-year-Old, who was kidnapped by the bandits during the incident was successfully rescued by the combined effort of the police and leaders of the repentant bandits.

    The victim has been reunited with his family after being debriefed.

    According to the police, normalcy has been restored in the area and its environs.

  • Troops rescue 10 abducted victims in Zamfara

    Troops rescue 10 abducted victims in Zamfara

    The troops of Operation Hadarin Daji have rescued 10 persons abducted by suspected bandits at Yenyewa village in Zamfara State.

    The victims were reportedly liberated by the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji on December 20 and reunited with their families.

    Disclosing this at a media briefing on the ongoing military operations across the country on Thursday, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. John Enenche, said the troops also eliminated a bandit and arrested two others while on night patrol at Bakinruwa Riverside in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    According to him, other bandits were forced to flee in disarray, some with gunshot wounds, abandoning their weapons due to the troops’ overwhelming firepower.

    Enenche stated, “As you are aware, all 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, who were abducted by bandits were rescued alive. Similarly, troops rescued 39 abducted girls who were Islamiya children returning from Maulud programme, at Nguwar Al-Kasim in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    “Also, on 20 December 2020, troops in a swift response to a distress call, with overwhelming firepower, rescued 10 kidnapped victims from bandits at Yenyewa village in Zamfara State. All rescued victims have been successfully reunited with their families.

  • Zamfara, Kano order immediate closure of day, boarding schools for fear of bandit attacks

    Zamfara, Kano order immediate closure of day, boarding schools for fear of bandit attacks

    The Zamfara State government has ordered the immediate closure of some Boarding and Day Schools in the state.

    Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, who is the Commissioner for Education, made the announcement while briefing reporters in Gusau, the state capital.

    He explained that the affected schools were those that share borders with Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto States.

    The commissioner noted that the three states were prone to banditry, saying that the decision was important to forestall any form of attack on the schools.

    He added that the action was necessary considering the security situation in the country and to prevent what happened at the Government Science Secondary School in Kankara, Katsina State.

    Abdullahi assured parents and guardians that the safety of the students was paramount to the state government.

    He revealed that the government has concluded plans to deploy security operatives to the remaining schools that were not closed.

    The affected educational facilities comprise seven boarding schools and day schools.

    Boarding schools listed include G.S.S. in Tsafe, G.S.S. in Magaji, G.A.S.S. in Zurmi, G.G.S.S. in Moriki, Science Secondary School in Shinkafi, Science Secondary School in Dansadau, and Science Secondary School in Bukkuyum.

    The affected day schools are G.D.S.S. in Nasarawa Mailayi, G.D.S.S in Gusami, and G.D.S.S. in Gurbin Bore.

    In a similar vain, the Kano State Government on Tuesday ordered the closure of all public and private schools in the state with immediate effect, Mr Sanusi Kiru, Commissioner for Education announced.

    Kirk, who gave the directive in a statement issued in Kano, urged parents to take their children from their various schools.

    “Parents whose children are in boarding schools are to also arrange and convey their children/wards back home from Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020.

    “All inconveniences are regretted,” the commissioner said.

    No official reason was given for the directive, which came three days to the end of the third term.

    All schools in the state are expected to close on Friday, Dec. 18.

    Recall that recently, more than 300 students in a boarding school at Kankara Local Government Area of the neighbouring Katsina State were abducted.

    Also, the Kano State Government had expressed concerns over the sudden upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the State, where 85 persons recently tested positive in a space of 10 days.

  • INEC declares PDP candidate winner of supplementary election in Zamfara

    INEC declares PDP candidate winner of supplementary election in Zamfara

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr Ibrahim Tudu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Bakura State constituency supplementary election in Zamfara.

    INEC Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Yahaya Tanko of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto, said Tudu polled 23,874 votes to win the election.

    “The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Dan-Kande Bello, polled 16,546 votes, while Mr Ibrahim Tudu of the PDP scored 23,874 votes and he has been declared elected,” he said.

    The state PDP Chairman Alhaji Tukur Dan-Fulani who spoke to journalists shortly after the announcement, charged the winner to justify his victory by being a good ambassador of the party.

    The APC had on Tuesday announced that it was boycotting the election.

    Mr Ibrahim Birnin-Magaji the state Publicity Secretary of the party said at a briefing that the party was pulling out because it had lost confidence on INEC and security agencies in the state.

  • APC boycotts Zamfara supplementary election

    APC boycotts Zamfara supplementary election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will not feature in the Dec. 9, Bakura state constituency supplementary election in Zamfara.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Magaji, Chairman of the State APC Publicity Committee said this at a news conference in Gusau on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the Dec. 5, by-election in the state as inconclusive following cancellation of results in 14 polling units due to over voting.

    INEC also fixed Wednesday, Dec. 9, for supplementary election in the 14 polling units that were cancelled.
    Magaji said that the APC decided to boycott the election because it has lost confidence in both INEC and security agencies in the state.

    “Our decision was based on the unfortunate situation that characterised the Dec. 5, Bakura by-election.
    “The election was marred by intimidation, harrassment and large scale violence that culminated in snatching of ballot boxes, kidnapping of electoral officials and killing of innocent people.

    “Our representatives attended the stakeholders meeting organised by INEC in Gusau on Monday Dec. 7, to fine tune measures put in place for the smooth conduct of the supplementary election.
    “The meeting was supposed to be attended by security agencies in the state because of their pivotal role as critical stakeholders in the election, but neither their heads nor their representatives attended the meeting,” he said.

    Magaji added:“The APC as a party, reviewed the issues pertaining the election, especially concerning security of lives and property of the electorate.

    “After intimating INEC of our fears, we suggested that the election be shifted to a more convenient date, so that all the issues raised from last election will be addressed, but INEC went ahead with the plans to conduct the election on Dec. 9.

    “We wish to inform the general public that the APC will not participate in the supplementary election.”

  • By-elections highlights: Abiru, Dickson, Dabu’ut win senatorial seats

    By-elections highlights: Abiru, Dickson, Dabu’ut win senatorial seats

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Sunday won senatorial by-elections in Lagos East, Imo North and Plateau South districts.

    According to observers, the by-elections, which were the first critical assignments by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mohammed Yakubu, who was cleared by the Senate for his second term last week, were generally peaceful.

    The APC candidate in the Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru, defeated his PDP rival, Babatunde Gbadamosi. Abiru, who polled 89,204 votes, defeated Gbadamosi, who got 11,257 votes.

    Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated Abiru and Kosofe Constituency II candidate Obafemi Saheed for their victories.

    Saheed polled 12,494 votes to beat his rival, Sikiru Alebiosu of PDP, who got 2,068.

    Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said APC’s victory with wide margin reflected the confidence of Lagosians in the rulling party

    The governor commended the electorate for trooping out to perform their civic responsibilities. He also lauded chieftains of the party and members for working assiduously for victory.

    Sanwo-Olu said: “I want to congratulate Mr. Tokunbo Abiru and Obafemi Saheed on their victories in last Saturday’s by-elections in Lagos East Senatorial District and Kosofe State Constituency II polls. Your emergence as federal and state lawmakers is a validation of peoples’ confidence in our dear party, the APC.”

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, congratulated the APC for its victory.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker congratulated Sanwo-Olu for leading the party to victory.

    Gbajabiamila urged the APC candidates to be magnanimous in victory.

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the victory showed that APC is a strong, formidable and unified platform in Lagos State.

    “The people of Lagos State appreciate us as a party and this is evident in the landslide victory of the two candidates in the election,” Obasa said.

    He urged Abiru and Saheed to see their victory as opportunities to bring government closer to their people and play strong roles in the advancement of Lagos State.

    Lagos APC said the defeat of the PDP confirmed that the opposition party had been rejected by Lagosians.

    APC chided the PDP chairman, Deji Doherty, for accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of allocating votes to the ruling party.

    Lagos APC Publicity Secretary Seye Oladejo said in a statement that the allegation of vote allocation to APC was ridiculous, stressing that the elections were free and fair.

    He also rejected the allegation of vote buying and other forms of fraud.

    Oladejo said: “The reaction of the Lagos State chairman of PDP to the humiliating defeat of his party to the recently held Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe 2 Lagos State House of Assembly elections can best be described as a comic relief from the recent pressure and challenges.

    “It was a referendum on the spineless and ineffectual opposition that the PDP has been providing in Lagos State for over two decades.

    “The age-long disharmony and lack of coordination in the PDP effectively laid the foundation for the permanent trouncing of the opposition party in Lagos state.

    “The impressive performance of the ruling party, APC, in the determined implementation of its progressive policies has made PDP a taboo in Lagos state.”

    He added:” It’s a big surprise that the state chairman could complain about the results of the elections that he was too busy to campaign for his candidates.

    “While they were busy conducting fake personal opinion polls, the ruling APC was reaching out to the voters with life changing programs, manifestos and policies that are relevant to the challenges of the day.

    “However, we emphatize with Engr Doherty who must still be dazed by the total annihilation.

    The bye-election will go down in history as one of the best in terms of conduct by INEC, the professionalism of the security agents and the fact that the results truly reflected the popular will.”

    Zamfara

    The PDP asked the Returning Officer for the Bakura Constituency in Zamfara State, Prof. Ibrahim Magatawa, to step aside.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party accused Prof Magatawa of plots to rig the poll in favour of the APC.

    The electoral commission had declared the election inconclusive, following its cancellation in some areas. INEC had fixed next Saturday to conclude the election.

    Ologbondiyan said: “The PDP demands the immediate removal of Prof. Magatawa as his embarrassing pronouncement has betrayed a plot to use the planned re-run in 14 polling units where election was cancelled under unclear circumstances, to rob our party of our victory in the Bakura State Constituency by-election.

    “Our party and Nigerians were shocked when, in declaring the election inconclusive, given that the total number of registered voters in the 14 polling units is 11,439 higher than the 2,181 difference between the 18,645 votes scored by the PDP and 16,464 votes garnered by the APC, Prof. Magatawa openly suggested that the rerun will give the APC upper hand over the PDP”.

    The PDP quoted Prof. Magatawa as saying: “If the APC is to, may gain advantage if there is another election in these units where election is cancelled, that they may get upper hand over the PDP and as a result, we have declared this result inconclusive”.

    The party said Magatawa’s statement exposed the partisanship of the INEC official, triggering a dangerous crisis of confidence and pointing to a creepy plot to use the rerun to allocate fictitious votes to APC, “the very reason, Prof. Magatawa must not be allowed in anyway to participate in the anticipated rerun”.

    “The PDP therefore. demands that the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, directly take over the conduct of processes in the Bakura State Constituency bye-election, where our party is in clear victory, as the people will never allow any final outcome that does not reflect the electoral reality already on the ground”

    Bauchi

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed enjoined PDP members to accept defeat at the Assembly by-election with dignity and sportsmanship.

    The governor who described the defeat as the will of God, urged party faithful not to be divided by the temporary setback.

    The governor in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media , Muktar Gidado and made available to reporters Sunday said the loss was a lesson, adding that ‘his government and the PDP need to plan to regain their lost ground with chivalry, tactics and team work.’

    He added: “We lost 21 House of Assembly seats and 3 Senate seats in 2019 but Allah gave us victory in the gubernatorial election. Let us not play to the gallery by indulging in blame game, internal rancor, accusations and mistrust.”

    Imo North

    There was drama at the INEC office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Owerri, the state capital, when the Returning Officer, Hakeem Adikum, declared the APC winner of Imo North.

    The Returning Officer said APC scored 36, 811 votes, while Emmanuel Okewulonu of the PDP scored 31, 903 votes.

    According to Adikum, APC won in five out of the six local government areas in the senatorial district while PDP won in one LGA.

    While PDP won in Obowo LGA where its candidate hails from.

    APC won in Okigwe, Onuimo, Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano and Ihitte/ Uboma LGAs.

    INEC’s failure to return any candidate as the winner caused disquiet in the hall, as the supporters of Ifeanyi Araraume and Frank Ibezim, laid claims to the APC ticket.

    The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo state, Prof Francis Ezeonu, told reporters that the commission was unable to return the APC candidate as the winner because of what he called court orders for and against Araraume and Ibezim of the APC.

    Also, Abuja Federal High Court had on Friday barred Ibezim from contesting the election.

    A Court of Appeal in Owerri sacked Araraume as the candidate and declared Ibezim as the authentic candidate of the party.

    Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenem who delivered the judgment, ordered INEC to immediately enlist Ibezim’s name as the candidate.

    Plateau South

    APC candidate in Plateau South Prof. Nora Dabu’ut, was declared winner.

    According to the results announced by INEC, Prof. Idris A female, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University, Lafia, Nassarawa State, said, Dabu’ut polled of 83,151 votes while George Daika, PDP rival, got 70,838 votes.

    Mrs Dabu’ut defeated her opponent in four out of the six local government areas in the senatorial district. while the PDP candidate, Daika, won in two local Government Areas.

    Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong congratulated Dabu’ut for making history as the first female Senator-elect in the State.

    Dabu’ut will succeed the late Senator Ignatius Longjan.

    Lalong said the victory of Prof. Nora Dabu’ut was not surprising as the APC is well rooted in the whole state particularly the Southern Senatorial District.

    Also, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, felicitated with Dabu’ut,

    In a congratulatory massage by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Muhammed Puma, Wase described the victory as a confirmation that the people of southern senatorial district have confidence in the ruling APC.

    He also lauded the electoral commission and security agencies for doing their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

    Cross River

    INEC declared Dr. Stephen Odey of the PDP winner.of the Cross River North by-election

    Odey and Jerigbe Agom Jerigbe also of the PDP were in court.

    They both obtained court orders asking INEC to accept their candidature.

    Also, INEC declared the PDP candidates winner in Obudu State Constituency by-election.

    The Collation Officer Prof. Ameh Akoh of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, who announced the result said, the PDP candidate, Dr Stephen Odey, scored 129,207 votes to defeat other Eight contestants.

    According to him, the APC candidate, Joe Agi (SAN) scored 19,165 votes to place second while African Democratic Congress, standard bearer Mr Gregory Agam came third with 388 votes among others.

    Katsina

    The APC candidate Dr. Ibrahim Aminu Kurami declared the winner of the Bakori State Constituency by-election.

    Kurami defeated Alhaji Aminu Magaji of the PDP.

    The Returning Officer of Bakori local Government State Constituency by-election, Professor A. D. Kankia, declared that Kurani scored 20,444 votes,

    He will replace Alhaji Abdurrazaq Tsiga, who died in May after a protracted illness.

    He was the House Deputy leader and Chairman, House Committee on Business, Ethics and Privileges, before his death.

    Enugu

    INEC declared Mrs Amaka Ugwueze, the PDP candidate of the , winner of Isi-Uzo State Constituency election.

    Declaring the results at Isi-Uzo council headquarters in Ikem, INEC Collation Officer for the By-Election, Mr Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu, said that Ugwueze polled 11,041 votes to defeat her close rival, Mr Ejiofor Okwor, candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), who polled 2,293 votes.

    Nwachukwu said other seven political parties that contested in the by-election scored less than 70 votes each.

    He noted that the by-election had 13,597 total valid votes and 391 rejected votes, while a total of 13,988 votes were cast.

    Dr Emeka Ononamadu, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, thanked the electorates and the people for conducting themselves very peacefully during and after the poll.

    “I appreciate our INEC staff, security men, stakeholders and especially the good people of Isi-Uzo for ensuring that this by-election was hitch-free,’’ Ononamadu said.

    The seat became vacant, following the death of the member representing the constituency, Mr Chijioke Ugwueze.

    The late lawmaker’s wife, Mrs Amaka Ugwueze, is the Peoples Democratic Party Candidate and the fourth female legislator in the state assembly.

    Borno

    The APC also won the two State Assembly seats in Borno State.

    Announcing the results in Briyel, headquarters of Bayo Local Government, the INEC Returning Officer Professor Gurama Abubakar declared Maina Maigari of the APC winner with 15,484 votes to defeat six other contestants.

    Also, Gajiram, Nganzai local government, the Returning Officer, Dr Kamsulum Umar declared APC candidate Mahommed Gajiram winner of the State Assembly seat with 8885 votes and returned elected.

    Bayelsa

    INEC declared former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson the winner of the Bayelsa West by-election.

    Also, Moses Cleopas of PDP won in Bayelsa CentralSenatorial District

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Ekechukwe Okeke, Dean of Humanities, the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State and Dickson, the PDP candidate polled 115,257 votes while his closest rival, Peremobowei Ebebi, of the APC scored 17,541 votes.

    Dickson, who spoke in his country home of Toru-Orua, shortly after his return, dedicated the victory to God, the voters, Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation.

  • Zamfara claims it get its gold from illegal miners, says state not involved in mining

    Dr. Nuruddeen Isa, the commissioner overseeing Zamfara State Ministry of Solid Minerals has said that the state government does not own any goldfield rather it belongs to the federal government.

    Dr. Isa said this while addressing journalists on Wednesday. The commissioner stated that the state government was not directly involved in mining activities.

    “The state government doesn’t own any portion of the goldfields throughout the state and is not involved in mining activities, Isa said.

    Isa disclosed that the state government used to buy gold from illegal miners to prevent them from being smuggled out of the country or get sold to bandits.

    However, he said the state has placed a ban on mining activities as miners have been asked to get a permit from the federal government.

    He said mineral resources belonged to the federal government and that anyone who wanted to mine them must get a federal license.

  • No ransom was paid on 26 kidnapped girls – Zamfara insists

    No ransom was paid on 26 kidnapped girls – Zamfara insists

    Zamfara government has maintained its position that no ransom was paid to secure the release of 26 girls kidnapped from Faskari local government area of Katsina State.

    Speaking at a media briefing in Gusau on Tuesday, Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser on Media to Gov. Bello Matawalle said: “we wish to make it categorically clear that the release of the 26 girls was made possible through peace initiative of the state government.

    “Right from the negotiation with the bandits who held the captives in Zamfara bushes to the time they were unconditionally released, the government of Zamfara felt it was saving the lives of Nigerians and not minding where they hailed from.

    “Fortunately some parents of the victims who were not happy with the information that N6.6 million was collected from them for the release of the girls are here to tell the press the truth,’’

    One of the victims’ parents who drove to Gusau along with seven of the girls to speak on the matter, Mallam Abdulkarim Musa said “we do not even know the man who addressed the press in Katsina on Monday claiming to be our village head and that we raised such a huge amount for the release of our children.

    “We shall ever remain grateful to the Bello Matawalle-led administration in Zamfara for saving our children over whom we had even lost hope after they were kidnapped from our village, Dan-Aji in Katsina State.

    “The gunmen killed people and burnt houses and properties when they invaded our village and took away the girls about 10 days ago, but thank God that they have all been saved now.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Matawalle announced rescuing the girls unconditionally from bandits last Friday.

    He subsequently directed the Zamfara Commissioner of Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran to take and hand them over to the governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Masari.

    Thereafter, social media platforms were awash with claims that the victims were not rescued by Zamfara government which compelled the government to arrange Tuesday’s media briefing on the matter.

  • Bandits release 26 abducted Katsina girls to Zamfara governor

    Bandits release 26 abducted Katsina girls to Zamfara governor

    Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle on Sunday said dialogue with bandits was still relevant just as he secured the release of 26 minor Katsina State girls from bandits without the payment of any ransom.

    The girls who were kidnapped by bandits in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State were brought into the bushes of Zamfara State but were discovered by the government and released through negotiations by the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs Abubakar Dauran who is in constant dialogue on behalf of the state with bandits on the need to embrace peace and live a normal life.

    Governor Matawalle, who received the rescued girls said his administration would not abandon the peace dialogue with bandits as firepower alone could not solve the problem of banditry in the state.

    “This is a testimony to our vision for engaging the bandits in dialogue. For those who believe we are wrong to dialogue with the bandits, the securing of these minors who are all girls, unhurt, is true, priceless”.

    The 26 rescued girls, whose ages range between 8 and 12 were medically checked and provided with new clothes. Governor Matawalle ordered for their safe return to Katsina State.

    This latest rescue brings the total number of those released by bandits in the last one week to more than 40.

  • After two months in captivity, Zamfara judges regain freedom from kidnappers’ den

    After two months in captivity, Zamfara judges regain freedom from kidnappers’ den

    Two Court Judges working for the Zamfara State Judiciary in Gusau the state Capital, Justice Salihu Abdullahi and Justice Shafiu Jangebe, where on Thursday freed by bandits after two months in the forest where they were held hostage.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG gathered that the legal minds got their freedom back after each of them paid a ransom of N1million each.

    The duo were abducted on their way back to Zamfara from Maradi in Niger Republic in September this year and were asked to pay N10m each. But their family members were not able to gather the money which forced the bandits to retain them for up to two months. The bandits where later left with no choice than to accept N1million each after series of plea from their family members.

    Speaking to Newsmen , a brother to one of the released judges, Malam Hassan Samaru said, “When the bandits realized that we could not meet their demand of N20m, they finally called us and told us to bring whatever we have.

    “We paid two million for the two judges and they were released.”

    He said that seven other people who were in captivity along with the two judges had also paid various sums of money and were released.