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Tag: Zamfara

  • 2023: NNPP Senatorial candidate defects to APC

    2023: NNPP Senatorial candidate defects to APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara has received defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and New Nigerians Peoples’ Party (NNPP).

    They defectors were received by the former Governor and Chairman, APC governorship campaign council in the state, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari, in Talata Mafara on Monday.

    In a statement issued by the media assistant to Yari, Malam Dahiru Mafara said among defectors were: Alhaji Ibrahim Shinkafi, the NNPP Senatorial candidate for Zamfara North Senatorial district in the 2023 general elections.

    Mafara said the defectors also include: NNPP House of Representatives candidate for Shinkafi and Zurmi Federal Constituency, Alhaji Suleiman Garba and the State Treasurer of the party, Suleiman Galadi.

    “Kaura-Namoda and Zurmi Local Governments NNPP Chairmen were also among the defectors.

    “The defectors also include the Coordinator of the foundation for the actualisation of PDP governorship candidate in 2023, Aminu Kanoma

    “Secretary and Treasurer of the foundation, Aminu Saminu and Hajiya Umulkhairi Aminu, respectively, had also joined the APC”, Mafara explained.

    Yari was represented by the Chairman, Contact and Mobilisation Sub-committee of the council, Alhaji Musa Zubairu and state APC Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani.

    Yari lauded them for their vision and foresight of joining the ruling APC in the state and assured them of equal treatment with the other members of the party.

    Speaking on behalf of the new entrants, Alhaji Ibrahim Shinkafi said they decided to the join the APC because of their  conviction with the leadership of Yari .

  • Matawalle condoles with Mangal family over death of CEO Max Air Line

    Matawalle condoles with Mangal family over death of CEO Max Air Line

    Gov Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has described the death of Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MAX Air Line, Alhaji Bashir Mangal, as a great loss.

    Matawalle described the deceased as seasoned business man and philanthropist.

    Newsmen reports that the deceased, who was the younger brother of the business Mogul and Chairman of Max Air, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, died recently in Abuja after a brief illness.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Monday by the Director General, Press Affairs, to the State House of Assembly, Malam Nasiru Biyabiki.

    The governor, represented by the Speaker of of the house, Alhaji Nasiru Magarya, paid a condolence visit to Alhaji Dahiru Mangal in Katsina.

    Matawalle noted that the death of Bashir Mangal was great loss to the deceased family and the entire Northern Nigeria and Nigeria as a whole.

    “Alhaji Bashir Mangal has contributed immensely to the political and socio-economic development in the country, especially in job creation, ” he added.

    The governor prayed to Allah to forgive the deceased for his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and give the family the heart to bear the loss.

    Responding on behalf of the family, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal thanked the governor for the visit.

    “On behalf of the Mangal family, I appreciate you for this visit and concern, we pray to Allah to take you back to your destination safely”, Mangal prayed.

  • Police confirm killing of Chinese national by bandits

    Police confirm killing of Chinese national by bandits

    The Zamfara police command on Thursday confirmed the killing of a male Chinese national by gunmen in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

    This was confirmed by the Police spokesperson in the state, SP Muhammad Shehu, in a statement he issued in Gusau.

    According to Shehu, the tactical operatives of the command responded to the distress call of an ambush by large number of bandits on the Hillux vehicle conveying two Chinese nationals with their police personnel escort on their way to Maradun Local Government Area of the state to assess some government projects.

    “As a result of the unfortunate ambush, the victims sustained various degrees of gunshot wounds and were rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Gusau for treatment.

    “One of the victims named Fan Yu, male, a Chinese national was later confirmed dead by the Doctors, while the other victim is responding to treatment”, Shehu said.

    According to him, the police operatives who responded to the distress call regarding the ambush neutralized, 11 bandits while others fled with possible gunshot wounds.

    “Two AK 47 Rifles, cutlasses belonging to the terrorists were recovered by the police tactical operatives in conjunction members of the vigilante group”, he added.

    Shehu said that the command deployed additional operatives to the area to complement the ongoing operations by the joint security operatives to restore normalcy and apprehend the fleeing assailants.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Kolo Yusuf, while commiserating with the families of the deceased assured that effort was ongoing to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act so as to face the full wrath of the law.

    Meanwhile, according to Shehu, the command’s tactical operatives also succeeded in repelling bandits’ attack along Zamfara-Katsina federal highway.

    “The police tactical operatives deployed along Gusau-Tsafe-Yankara road received a distress call of bandit’s plan to block highway near Kucheri village.

    “The operatives swung into action and mobilised to the location where a serious gun battle between the police and the terrorists ensued.

    “Luckily enough, the attack was repelled while the terrorists fled back to the forest with possible gunshot injuries.

    “Confidence building patrol is being intensified to avert regrouping of the bandits back to the highway,” he said

  • Matawalle condoles with affected families as 213 bodies of Zamfara terrorists recovered

    Matawalle condoles with affected families as 213 bodies of Zamfara terrorists recovered

    Governor Bello Matawalle condoles affected families as 213 bodies, comprising that of terrorists and their collaborators have been recovered days after intense exchanges of gunfire between Nigerian troops and terrorists in some Zamfara communities.

    It was that gathered that the military also lost 10 personnel while some civilians were killed when bandits fled toward the communities.

    This is just as the air component and ground troops of Operation Hadarin Daji recorded a major victory after eliminating terrorists in Malele Village of Dansadau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    Aircraft from the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, and ground troops of the Nigerian Army, sustained a well-coordinated joint operation since last Saturday.

    Terrorist activities in the area have been exacerbated due to the lingering crisis between Hausas and Fulanis over the devouring of farm produce thereby making the area very volatile, especially in Malele, Maigoge, Yan Sawayu, Ruwan Tofa, Mai Awaki, and Zama Lafiya, all under Mutunji district of Dansadau Emirate Council.

    A defence intelligence operative revealed that the security services mobilized their troops in launching a series of attacks and airstrikes against those warring bandits coming from different parts of the country.

    “Both the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) operations are yielding fantastic results in the area with several terrorists being eliminated as the battle is still on.

    “Bandits who were fleeing from NAF airstrikes ran into a small village called Mutunji to take refuge. After ensuring that civilian lives in the village were not at risk, the NAF aircraft undertook a precision strike at the exact location while the ground troops cleared the fleeing bandits in their escape bids,” the operative had said.

    But in an update on Tuesday, sources in the community disclosed that 10 soldiers paid the supreme price while their colleagues, pounded the terrorists.

    “At least we counted 213 bodies of the bandit terrorists and their collaborators. Some civilians too were killed in what the military called ‘collateral damage’ when fleeing bandits hid in the communities.

    “The attack on troops occurred when the troops with the support of local vigilantes were navigating the terrains for counter-attacks.”

    In his condolence message, Governor Bello Matawalle, through his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Zailani Bappa, expressed his heartfelt sympathy to the families of victims earlier caught in military fire against the marauding bandits.

    “I wish to, on behalf of myself, my family, the state Government and the entire good people of Zamfara state, extend my sincere sympathy to those who were injured and the families of those who died as a result of this collateral damage,” the governor said.

  • Insecurity: Airstrikes kill 11 soldiers, injure 70 persons in Zamfara bandits’ attack

    Insecurity: Airstrikes kill 11 soldiers, injure 70 persons in Zamfara bandits’ attack

    About eleven soldiers have lost their lives, and well over 70 villagers sustained various degrees of injuries after a Military airstrike missed its target in Malele and Mutungi communities of Zamfara State.

    According to an eye witness, Nuhu Dansadau, the bandits had on Saturday invaded Malele community of Dansadau Emirate in Maru Local Government Area, with the youths in the village putting up resistance.

    However, the bandits later reinforced and doubled their numbers to attack the communities again thereby forcing them to send SOS to military operatives in Dansadau who responded swiftly and engaged the outlaws in a shootout.

    It was gathered that the bandits reportedly ran to the nearby village of Mutungi and sought cover in a market from where they exchanged fire with military operatives. The eyewitnesses who spoke to Newsmen said that most of the bandits were overpowered, killed while some ran away with multiple injuries.

    Dansadau, however, said the bandits’ collaborators had informed them that soldiers were coming after them, leading to the bandits setting up an ambush for the soldiers which led to a protracted gun duel.

    He said “When the tension became too much, the commanding officer of the army in Dansadau axis requested for the support of the Nigeria Air Force. It was the air strikes that affected many villagers.”

    About 67 villagers in the Mutungi community sustained various degrees of injuries with seven of the injured Dead-On-Arrival at the Ahmad Yarima Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, the state capital.

    “For 11 soldiers and seven civilians to die and scores injured by airstrikes is very unfortunate, perplexing and embarrassing to the Nigerian military,” he lamented.

    He also noted that 26 villagers were also seriously injured in Mutungi community, with 20 others receiving treatment at Dansadau General hospital at the time of filing this report.

    When newsmen visited the Ahmad Yarima Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, some of the victims said it was a serious gun battle between the military and the bandits.

    The victims claimed they were not injured by bandits or military operatives but rather sustained injuries during their struggle to escape.

    Some of them spoke fearfully of a bandit kingpin popularly known as Damuna whom they claimed had kidnapped 225 persons in the nearby village of Randa, with 61 of the victims killed by guns while 50 others were slaughtered by knife and 10 subjected to serious tortures that killed them.

    Recall that bandits on Saturday blocked Dansadau road leading to the markets and many parts of the state thereby forcing traders and farmers to stay indoors whilst some looked for where to hide.

     

  • Court remands Zamfara commissioner, Ibrahim Magayaki

    Court remands Zamfara commissioner, Ibrahim Magayaki

    A Zamfara High Court sitting in Gusau on Monday remanded the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Ibrahim Magayaki for contempt of court.

    The presiding Judge, Justice Bello Shinkafi, ordered that the commissioner be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Gusau.

    He said the court relied on the provisions of Section 6 of the Penal Code Law following disobedience of a court order by the commissioner.

    Justice Shinkafi said the commissioner disrespected the court order in a suit between the Zamfara government and Dumbulum investment.

    According to him, Dumbulum Investment secured court approval to attach some of the state government movable properties including tractors.

    The judge said that the Agriculture commissioner defied the court order sold some of the tractor parts already attached by the court.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Misbahu Salauddeen, Counsel to the creditors and applicants told newsmen shortly after the court sitting that the remand order was based on an application by his clients.

    Meanwhile, the judgment debtors led by Mr. M. S Sulaiman said he was not authorised by the Attorney-General of the state to grant press interviews.

    The court adjourned the case until Dec. 16, 2022, for the continuation of the hearing in the suit.

  • Asaba 2022: Athlete slumps, dislocate wrist, ruled out of event

    Asaba 2022: Athlete slumps, dislocate wrist, ruled out of event

    A taekwondo athlete, Daniel Otunoye, representing team Zamfara has been ruled out of the National Sports Festival presently holding in Asaba the Delta state capital after he slumped few minutes before his fight with his Bayelsa opponent.

    Otunoye had already gotten ready to slug it out with his opponent Yiazibe Torukuru from Bayelsa when suddenly he slumped at the multipurpose indoor sports hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    Although he immediately received attention from the medical personnel on the ground and later rushed to the hospital for recuperation, Otunoye was eventually ruled out of the competition on medical grounds.

    Otunoye had fought earlier in the day and was a favourite to make the final before his collapse ended the championship for him.

    He was already on the fight arena facing off against his opponent but fell before the opening bell was rung.

    According to the health doctor in charge of the National Sports Festival, Dr. Anthony Enebe, the athlete’s condition isn’t so bad but we have to rule him out to avoid complicating it.

    “The guy (Otunoye) is okay now, he dislocated his right wrist and is a known asthmatic patient, but the asthma isn’t so bad that he can’t compete in an event like this,” Enebe said.

    “I think the dislocation from an earlier bout was what caused him to collapse and needed to be taken out of the fight, but he is fine now.”

    Enebe added that the young athlete’s fight would not be postponed. Instead, Otunoye forfeited the bout, as his condition ruled him out of the rest of the festival.

    “He can no longer make an appearance in this festival. The injury marks the end of the competition for him,” Enebe said.

    One of Otunoye’s teammates, Sherifah Hassan, who was at the indoor hall when he collapsed, told our correspondent what happened on the mat.

    “He didn’t complain about any pains before the fight, his opponent landed a back leg kick on his hand and as soon as it landed, he went down and started shaking,” Hassan, who checked on Otunoye at the medical centre, said.

    “After a few seconds, he suddenly went still and we were scared that he was dead. Our fears heightened because the medical personnel kept touching his wrist and we thought they were checking his pulse, not knowing it was dislocated.

    “I am glad to hear that he is okay now, although I am sad about the injury because I really feel he had a very good chance of winning the gold medal,” she said.

    Otunoye’s opponent will move to the next round of the event.

  • Zamfara: Court sacks PDP Rep candidate, orders fresh primaries

    Zamfara: Court sacks PDP Rep candidate, orders fresh primaries

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, invalidated the primary election that produced Rep Sani Galadima as the PDP candidate for the 2023 Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara election.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgement, ordered the conduct of a fresh election within 14 days of the order, which should be monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Ekwo also gave an order, restraining Galadima from participating in the PDP’s primary poll for the nomination of its candidate for the forthcoming federal constituency.

    “An order is hereby made restraining the 1st defendant (Galadima) from parading himself as the purported winner of the 3rd defendant (PDP)’s primary election for the nomination of its candidate representing the Kaura Namoda/Bimin-Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State in the forthcoming 2023 general elections,” he said.

    Delivering the judgement, Justice Ekwo declared that in view of Artie 50 and 5D (4) of the constitution of the PDP, Galadima cannot validly contest for the position of member representing the federal constituency on the platform of the party while being a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as at May 2022, less than 30 days to the PDP primary election.

    “I find that the case of the plaintiff succeeds on the merit,” he said.

    Galadima is currently the member representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

    Two members of the party; Muzammil Idris and Ibrahim Sani, had sued Rep Sani Galadima, INEC, PDP and Dr Iyorchai Ayu as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

    In an amended originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/834/2022, the plaintiffs had sought the determination of some questions.

    Among which is: “Whether in view of Section 87, Article 8(8) of the Constitution of the PDP, 2017 (as amended), the 1st defendant who is a sitting member of the House of Representatives representing Kaura Namoda/Birnin Magaji Federal Constituency of Zamfara State can validly join the 3rd defendant without having resigned/decamped from his membership of the All Progressives Congress?”

  • To stay alive, community contributes N20m ‘peace deal fee’ for notorious terrorist, Bello Turji

    To stay alive, community contributes N20m ‘peace deal fee’ for notorious terrorist, Bello Turji

    To live in peace, residents of Gidan Goga town in the Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State are reportedly contributing the sum of N20 million to give to the notorious terrorist leader, Bello Turji as a form of a “peace deal fee” to free their town from him.

    Bello Turji Kachalla, popularly known as Turji, is a notorious Nigerian terrorist and bandit leader who has been operating in northern Nigerian states including Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger.

    The 28-year-old terrorist leader allegedly led a bandit gang attack from January 4 to 6, 2022, where over 200 people including women and children were massacred by bandits in Zamfara State.

    “People in the community are raising N20 million to give to Bello Turji to strike a form of peace deal with him so that there won’t be attacks here again,” a resident revealed.

    “The community hopes this will end attacks,” another resident confirmed the situation to SaharaReporters.

    However, in August this year, the Zamfara State Government announced that Turji had embraced its peace initiative and promised to tackle rival terrorist groups in the region.

    The Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Hassan Nasiha, who disclosed Turji’s alleged acceptance of the state’s peace initiative during a conference on security in Gusau, the state capital, organised by the Students Union of Medina University, commended the terrorist leader for deciding to shun banditry.

    Nasiha said that Turji’s action was bringing about relative peace in Birnin Magaji, Shinkafi and Zurmi local government areas of the state, saying that Turji was launching an offensive against other terrorists in the areas to “ensure peace and stability return to the state.”

    “Turji is now killing unrepentant bandits who unleashed terror on innocent citizens in Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji local government areas,” the Deputy Governor had said.

    However, Defence headquarters on Monday released a list of 19 most wanted terrorist kingpins and commanders under the manhunt of troops and security agencies.

    The list of the wanted terrorists includes Turji and Adamu Alliero who was turbaned as the Yankuzo as the Sarkin Fulani (King of the Fulani) of Birnin Yandoto Emirate by Emir of the Emirate, Aliyu Marafa.

    Defence headquarters also announced the offer of a reward of N5 million for information that could lead to the whereabouts and arrest of each of the terrorist leaders.

  • APC denies involvement in nullification of Zamfara PDP governorship primaries

    APC denies involvement in nullification of Zamfara PDP governorship primaries

    The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has no hand in the nullification of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Gusau on Friday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris.

    The Federal High Court sitting in Gusau on Tuesday nullified the primaries held on Sept. 23 that produced Dr. Dauda Lawal-Dare as PDP governorship candidate in the state.

    The same court had earlier on Sept 16, nullified the first exercise, following alleged irregularities in the governorship primaries conducted on May 25.

    According to Idris, the court cancelled the first and second governorship primary elections in the state for violating the 2022 Electoral Act as Amended and the Constitution of the party.

    Idris said: “The APC closely watched the scenario until the court finally ruled that the primary election has been nullified and the party should not present any candidate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

    “The PDP accused the court which is a Federal Government institution and both the APC and Zamfara government for its misery.”

    According to him, the most disheartening was the reference to the APC as being behind an internal matter of the PDP and also the underlying attack on the APC.

    He cautioned PDP against such unwholesome statements against APC, adding that the party will not condone such in the future.

    “The PDP should go home and lick its wounds or take further legal action against its members that went to court seeking redress and stop joining issues with the APC.

    “The APC under the able leadership of Gov. Matawalle had continued to enjoy patronage from the electorate in the state especially from the PDP members that have been defecting to the APC in their thousands including its leaders”, he added.