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Politics › Transportation Fares Soar As Fuel Scarcity Resurfaces In Abuja by agwom(op): 2:27pm On Mar 01, 2021

Fares in Abuja increased on Monday morning and long queues emerged at petrol stations in the city amidst concern over fuel scarcity.

A trip from Life-camp Junction to Berger and Wuse that hitherto cost N150 increased to N200 and Dei-Dei to Berger now N250 from N200.

Daily Trust recalls that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silver, two weeks ago urged Nigerians to prepare for an increase in fuel price as global oil price climbed above $60 per barrel.

The few fuel stations selling petrol had large numbers of motorists.

Motorists waiting to fuel their car at AA Rano fuel station at Utako.

A driver, Uchenna David, told our reporter that he had a hint of fuel scarcity last night due to the increase of cars in fuel stations.

Having that in mind, he said he came out early to fuel his car but met a long queue.

“I know it will be hard to get fuel today but as a car owner, I need to fuel today no matter what it takes. I was surprised not when with the queue because others will be thinking as I am with the situation yesterday.”

He urged the government to make up its mind on whether to increase the pump price so as to avoid subjecting citizens to hardship.

A taxi driver, Ibrahim Khalid, said the increase in transport fare was a combination of fuel scarcity and fewer cars plying the roads.

“Most cars are in fuel stations and few ones taking passengers have increased their price to make up with the time they wasted in fuel stations. We are not happy with the situation but it is not our wish to spend hours in stations waiting for fuel.”

“I hope the situation changes before the end of the week for everything to go back to normal,” he said.

Abigail Yakubu, a commuter, who expressed shock with the N50 increase to her destination, said she had been waiting for over 20 minutes to get a car at the normal rate.

https://dailytrust.com/hike-in-transportation-as-fuel-scarcity-resurfaces-in-abuja

Family › How Seven Family Members Perished In Kano Inferno by agwom(op): 7:02am On Feb 27, 2021

“Daddy, today I did not sleep in school, and I recited the Qur’an perfectly,” were the last words Abdulrahman Ibrahim will remember hearing from his three-year-old son, Khaleel, who died alongside six other family members in an inferno in Na’ibawa area of Kano metropolis.

Ibrahim said he remembered those words vividly as they were the words his son emphasized to him when he went to pick them (with his brother) up from Islamiyya evening classes on that fateful Monday.

Fire gutted the house of Abdurrahman Ibrahim (aka Babawo) at Na’ibawa ‘Yanlemo in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State and seven family members lost their lives in the inferno. It was gathered that the fire occurred on Monday around 9:30pm when the family members had already retired to bed.

Those killed in the fire incident include Ibrahim’s aged mother – Hajiya Rahinatu Jibrin; his two children, five-year-old Abdurrahman and three-year-old Khaleel.

Others are Ibrahim’s sister Aisha Ibrahim and his nieces, Intisar Ya’u, Amina Ya’u and Rahinatu Ya’u.

According to an eyewitness, who preferred anonymity, the cause of the fire was related to mosquito coils which the family members used to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

The eyewitness added that it was the wife who noticed the fire. “It was the wife that saw the smoke coming out from her mother-in-law’s room and she rushed out calling for help. We immediately rushed to the house and helped to put the fire off,” the witness said.

The deceased have since been buried according to Islamic injunctions.

Ibrahim told Daily Trust Saturday that he was not at home when the incident happened.

“Innalillahi Wainna ilaihi Raji’un (To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return). I was in my business place when one of my younger brothers called me on phone and told me that my house was gutted by fire. I rushed back home only to see that my mother, my two sons, my sister and her three children have all been burnt by the fire.

“I noticed that six of them had already died while my sister was still breathing, so we rushed her to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital where she was admitted. The doctor said she will undergo several operations but she died the following morning,” he narrated.

Ibrahim, who is a tailor in the area, explained that his sister, who lives in Suleja, came to Kano for their elder brother’s wedding.

“She decided to spend some days with her family in Kano. And we did not know she came to meet her end here,” he said.

Ibrahim also said the fire was caused by a mosquito coil.

He disclosed that all the properties in his mother’s room and the sitting room were consumed by the fire.

Recalling the last moment with his children, Ibrahim said that his last chat with his three-year-old son Khaleel was still fresh in his mind.

“When I picked them up from school in the afternoon, he was so excited as he was telling me that “Daddy today I did my class work myself. My class teacher allowed me to write and I did well.

“He repeated almost the same thing in the evening when I picked them from Islamiyya. He told me that he did well in his Qur’anic recitation. He was so happy when he was speaking to me.

“I dropped them at home and went back to my tailoring shop at ‘Yanlemo market. Only for me to come back and meet their burnt corpses.

“I only pray for their souls to rest in peace and for Allah to give us the fortitude to bear the loss. This is a loss that I can never forget until when my own time comes,” he said.

Efforts to speak with the wife proved abortive as she was still in shock over the incident.

However, the Kano State Fire Service said they were not aware of the fire incident.

Alhaji Saidu Muhammed, the Service’s Public Relations Officer told Daily Trust Saturday that, “We did not receive any distress call from Na’ibawa. We cannot be aware of any incidents until when we are informed. So, we know nothing about the fire you are talking about.”

https://dailytrust.com/how-seven-family-members-perished-in-kano-inferno

Politics › Zamfara Abduction: Empower States To Control Internal Security – Atiku by agwom(op): 6:03am On Feb 27, 2021

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the abduction of Zamfara schoolgirls and urged Buhari to empower the state government to control their internal security.

Atiku, in a statement yesterday, said: “My heart is very heavy over the abduction of our young daughters from Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe, Zamfara State.

“I have had a phone conversation with the Governor of Zamfara, H.E Bello Matawalle, and I am informed that his government is doing everything in its power to secure the release of the abducted students.

“I have previously made recommendations on how our beloved nation can defeat enemies of the state and win the war on terror, and I stand by those suggestions.

“The Federal Government cannot expect the states to provide security of life and property in their domain, without giving them control over internal security. This is now a necessity.

“Thus, I call on the National and State Assemblies to begin the process of constitutional and legal reforms that will make this a reality. The legislature must take the lead, as it seems, the executive may not be able to provide the needed leadership on this issue.”

https://dailytrust.com/zamfara-abduction-empower-states-to-control-internal-security-atiku

Politics › 9 Forests ‘governed’ By Bandits, B/haram by agwom(op): 5:37am On Feb 27, 2021

* Recover them to end insecurity – Ex-DSS director

Nine forests linking almost the entire northern part of Nigeria and some neighbouring countries are being governed by bandits, thus worsening the insecurity challenges bedevilling the region, Daily Trust Saturday report.

Ismail Mudashir, Idowu Isamotu (Abuja); Lami Sadiq (Kaduna); Shehu Umar (Gusau); Habibu Umar Aminu (Kano) & Misbahu Bashir (Maiduguri)

Bandits, terrorists and kidnappers have taken over many forests from where they are reportedly launching attacks and subsequently keep kidnapped victims hostage. While civilians see the forests as ‘dead zones’, such places have remained mysterious for security personnel.

The nine forests include Sambisa, Alagarno, Kamuku, Kuduru, Kuyambana, Burwaye, Ajja, Dajin Rugu and Sububu have become the hotbeds of insurgency and banditry, and therefore a no-go area.

Analysts told the Daily Trust Saturday that unless the forests are ransacked, reclaimed and properly guarded, authorities would never get it right in terms of securing the people.

What started as local criminality and cattle rustling around communities surrounding large forests in Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari and Giwa local government areas have over the years snowballed into full banditry and terrorism that have led to the killing of hundreds of villagers while thousands have been displaced. Criminals in Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari and Giwa LGAs have over the years found shield within the Kamuku and Kuduru forests.

For residents of the affected communities, Kuduru and Kamuku forests have come to be identified as the two deadliest bandit enclaves that have become a nightmare for residents around the area. The Kamuku National Park criss-crosses five northern states of Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi states even though a large portion of the forest is situated within Kaduna’s Birnin Gwari LGA. With a total land area of about 1,121 square kilometres, Kamuku is said to extend to Chikun, Kajuru and Giwa LGA within Kaduna State.

With Kuduru forests also situated west of Birnin Gwari LGA, communities have over the years faced some of the most gruesome attacks.

Residents’ harrowing tales

Our correspondent reports that the banditry activities have largely ravaged dozens of villages in Giwa LGA with at least 30 villages becoming ‘danger zones’ with bandits operating freely.

“Bandits come from Kuduru forest, transact their business activities fully armed in Girya, Goburawa, Karshi, Garke, and Uguwan Idi villages and many others unchallenged,” said Ishaq Tanimu from Giwa.

Shehu Ibrahim who lives around Dogon Dawa in Birnin Gwari said presently, dozens of communities including big ones such as Damari and Saulawa have been vacated due to activities of bandits linked to Kamuku forest.

“They travel on motorcycles, hundreds of them sometimes, two or three on motorcycles and heavily armed, they attack our communities, steal our farm produce and animals, kill the men and abduct the women and children,” he said.

He added that major towns such as Birnin Gwari town and Dogon Dawa are today heavily fortified with security teams at all locations while residents have taken up to vigilante teams to defend their communities.”

Our correspondent reports that Kamuku as a park was established in 1936 as the Native Authority Forest Reserve Birnin Gwari under the Northern Nigerian Government. It was later upgraded from a state game reserve to a national park before it was closed down due to increasing cattle rustling and banditry.

In 2015, the governors of the affected states which share boundary with Kamuku had collaborated in a joint operation involving the army, air force, mobile police and other security agencies to launch an operation that will exterminate and arrest suspected terrorists and bandits within the forest. This, however, has not resulted in the expected dislodgment of bandits.

Inside Zamfara’s Kuyambana, Burwaye, Ajja, Sububu forests

Zamfara State has suffered a series of deadly raids by armed bandits and cattle rustlers in the past 10 years. Hundreds of residents have been killed, and thousands of cattle stolen across the 14 local government areas of the state.

The state has large forests that have become safe haven for criminals. The armed men use the forests straddling many states as cover, thus, making it possible for them to carry out their activities with ease. Forest such as Kuyambana, Burwaye and Ajja have become hiding places for the bandits.

The armed bandits have made Kuyambana forest their abode. They launch major attacks on hapless rural communities from there.

The deadly Kuyambana forest in Maru LGA extends to Birnin Gwari in Kaduna and Kebbi states.

Our correspondent reports that the bandits from the forest move to neighbouring villages on motorbikes with guns unchallenged.

A resident, Malam Sani Yar’galadima, said Kuyambana is the most dangerous forest after Sambisa.

“The reason why I told you this is that no one dares to inch towards his farm without him or her getting killed, kidnapped or at least have his or her money or property robbed. It has happened to many of us here,” he said.

Another deadly forest in Zamfara is Burwaye forest in Anka and Bukkuyum LGAs of the state.

The forest has also become a hiding place for armed men who have been terrorising residents of rural communities in the area for quite a long time.

“There is nothing mystical about these forests except they have been allowed to become lodges for criminals. Before these forests became what they are today, we used to go deep in to get logs for wood and clear lands for farming, but now all these are practically impossible,” said a resident, Aliyu Kawaye.

In Birnin Magaji and Zurmi LGAs of the state also lies an expansive dangerous Ajja forest. It extends to Batsari and Safana LGAs of Katsina State.

Then another forest called Sububu lies between Shinkafi and Maradun LGAs of Zamfara State and Isa and Sabon Birnin LGAs of Sokoto State.

Armed bandits had carried out several deadly attacks on herding and farming communities of the local governments using the forest as an operation camp.

The notorious Sambisa Forest used to be a game reserve where wild animals such as elephants strayed in from other countries, but constant hunting and other human activities drove most of the wild animals away.

The forest is located at the northeastern tip of the west Sudanian Savanna and the southern boundary of the Sahel Acacia Savanna, about 60 km south east of Maiduguri. It occupies parts of Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, and some parts of Kano state farther north.

The name of the forest comes from the village of Sambisa which is on the border with Gwoza in the East. The Gwoza hills in the East have peaks of 1,300 meters above sea level and form part of the Mandara Mountains range along the Cameroon-Nigeria border

Considering its size and convenience, the Boko Haram insurgents, driven out of major towns by both the military and civil defence forces, have sought refuge in Sambisa and the nearby Mandara Mountains from where they sneak out to launch attacks on their targets.

The military had traced some of the insurgents’ camps to the forest on different occasions and dislodged them; yet, the terrorists move deep into the forest to evade arrest.

A military source said there were villages located in Sambisa before the advent of insurgency with people living peacefully. In the middle of Sambisa National Park was a village called Njimia.

“The insurgents have mixed up with locals and succeeded in persuading them into sympathising with their ideology. The inhabitants were used in obtaining and transporting essential commodities from other towns to the insurgents hiding around them; locals who failed to join them either leave the communities or risk being killed,” he said.

He said herders who moved their cattle and other types of domestic animals were made to pay taxes on their animals to the insurgents.

Alagarno forest, on the other hand, covered parts of Borno and Yobe states and is also a hiding place for insurgents.

Sources said Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has over the years been shuttling between Sambisa and Alagarno forests, launching attacks on communities in Yobe and Borno states.

My take on Sambisa – IBB

Responding to a question in an interview with this paper on the forest last year, former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), said he took the national guards to the Sambisa forest to secure the place and the country.

He said he was not happy that a positive idea was misconstrued because some people thought his plans for the Sambisa Forest and the people that would be trained there was to perpetuate himself in power.

“We looked at the country generally to get an area where they could be trained (national guards) and one of our brightest young officers who was a governor in Borno at that time told us that there was a place (Sambisa) where they could be trained.

“I feel bad that it has been taken over, if there is anything like that; but I also feel vindicated. If the guards were there doing their training, it wouldn’t have been possible to take over the forest,” he said.

Good news from Falgore forest

In Kano, the Falgore Forest is located about 150 kilometres from the city and cuts across three local governments of Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Sumaila.

Falgore Game Reserve started as Kogin Kano forest reserve which was developed during the British colonial period in 1940s. The forest reserve was only upgraded into a game reserve in the 1960s and subsequently called Falgore Game Reserve.

Kano State is one of the few states in northern Nigeria not seriously affected by terror attacks although it shares boundaries with Katsina and Kaduna states both heavily affected by banditry.

However, some remote villages in the state have recorded cases of kidnapping and other crimes in recent times.

The forest was becoming a den of criminals but the collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the Kano State government halted it. It has been converted to a military training ground to forestall criminal activities.

Recently, about 500 million was set aside for the construction of the first phase of the military training facility at the forest.

Dajin Rugu gradually becoming bandits’s den

Dajin Rugu is a thick forest that stretches from Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, through parts of Katsina State and ending in Zamfara State.

Twenty years ago, the famous Dajin Rugu was home to wild animals such as lions, elephants, hyenas, gorillas and zebras, among other wild animals. The forest was also famous for its rivers, dams and rocks which make the forest a beautiful tourist site.

However, a recent visit to Rugu forest by our reporter shows that this famous tourist attraction is diminishing, due to neglect by the government. There are no access roads to the forest, not to talk of the roads leading to tourist attraction sites within the forest.

The only road leading to Rugu forest from Tambari village is also dilapidated, causing major difficulties to motorists and visitors into the forest.

It was observed that aside from being a haven for wild animals, Dajin Rugu has turned into a camp for Fulani cattle herders, thieves and armed robbers. Even the Fulani, Daily Trust Saturday observed, are currently migrating from Rugu with their herds because of lack of water and grass for the animals.

“During the dry season, it is difficult to find food and water for our cows, or for us to drink and cook our food,” said Malam Adamu Dantsoho, a herdsman who was born in the forest.

Dantsoho told Daily Trust Saturday that, “I was born in the forest and I am still living there with my family and animals. But I have resolved to migrate from the forest to Tiga Area in Kano State, because I learnt there is water and grass over there.

Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the only surviving dam in Rugu as of now is Kirya dam. On a daily basis, about 3,000 animals go to quench their thirst at the dam. Adamu Dantsoho said, “As they drink, we also drink too. I mean we drink from the same pond with our animals including dogs, snakes and monkeys.”

Like Yankari and Falgore Game Reserves in Bauchi and Kano states, respectively, Dajin Rugu is a potential tourist site, which, if utilized, can attract tourists, not only from within Nigeria, but from all over the world.

https://dailytrust.com/9-forests-governed-by-bandits-b-haram

Politics › Re: EFCC: Malami Tackles Sagay, Says He’s Confused by agwom(m): 10:09am On Feb 26, 2021

Politics › Re: Nigeria has failed in democracy, constitutionalism –Ezekwesili by agwom(m): 10:06am On Feb 26, 2021

All is not well

Politics › Re: Breaking News : Bandits Kidnap 300 Girl Students From Secondary School In Zamafa by agwom(m): 8:33am On Feb 26, 2021

Politics › Re: Kidnappers Now Ask For Ramson In Drugs - NDLEA Boss Says by agwom(m): 7:29am On Feb 26, 2021

hmmmm

Politics › Stop Quarrelling In Public — NEF To Northern Governors by agwom(op): 6:35am On Feb 26, 2021

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has advised governors of the northern region to exercise restrain and stop quarrelling in public stressing that it sets a bad precedence for people in the region.

The NEF Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed who spoke during a joint meeting with governors, traditional leaders and federal government delegation in Kaduna said when governors disagree on issues of security, it causes panic among citizens.

Baba-Ahmed said, “Governors are leaders and when governors disagree so openly, on the way forward either on security or how to deal with banditry it causes more panic among our people. We beg our leaders, there must be a way to resolve issues among governors without making some of these things public.”

He urged the governors to work with their colleagues in the southern part of the region to ensure that northerners resident there are protected while assuring that the NEF will pray for the success of the governors to take the region forward.

He however added that the NEF would not fail to criticize leaders in the region where they feel things are not properly handled adding that, “when we do that, it doesn’t mean we are on the opposite side, it just means that the north has a lot of assets and all the assets need to be put to use one. There is no need for ethnicity or religion because the entire north is in trouble.”

https://dailytrust.com/stop-quarrelling-in-public-nef-to-northern-governors

Phones › NSA, Pantami Differ On 5G Technology by agwom(op): 6:26am On Feb 26, 2021

The Office of the National Security Adviser and the Minister of Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, yesterday differed on the deployment of the Fifth Generation in Nigeria.

They spoke in Abuja at an investigative hearing on the status of 5G network in Nigeria, organized by Joint Senate Committee on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT & Cyber Crimes and Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases.

While Pantami said Nigeria was ready for the deployment of 5G; the ONSA expressed concerns about the deliberate vulnerabilities and backdoors within the network’s equipment.

ONSA Director of Communications, Bala Fakandu, said: “We’re aware that the deployment of 5G will come with different types of equipment and so we understand that the stakeholders in the telecommunications industry will make effort to ensure that they upgrade their systems in order to meet up with the new technology.

“But we’re concerned about the deliberate vulnerabilities and backdoors within the 5G network equipment. That’s one of the key concerns we’ve and this will make the infrastructure highly susceptible to eavesdropping, tracking, cyber attacks, military and industrial espionage and other malicious activities by foreign actors.

“We urge the Honourble Minister to carry the office along in the development of the policy so that we could have a robust framework to take care of this areas.”

Pantami said his ministry had conducted the first trial of 5G in Nigeria on 25th September 2019 and was in the process of compiling its final position.

“And most of compiled position will be part of my draft national policy which will be presented at the Federal Executive Council.

“The position is that we’re almost at the final stage. So now, Nigeria is ready for 5G as long as we address the major challenges,” he said.

He noted that so, far no negative impacts had been established from the research and trial carried both locally and at the international level.

He assured that there was no link between 5G and COVID-19 and any other disease.

“The only issue being raised usually is about radiation. But people don’t realise that the radiation of 4G more harmful than that of 5G.

“The radiation of microwave oven at home is more harmful than that of the 5G. The radiation of even the smart phone itself is even more harmful than that of 5G,” he added.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the Senate would only approve the deployment of 5G network only if the security and safety of the citizens are guaranteed.

https://dailytrust.com/nsa-pantami-differ-on-5g-technology

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Politics › Tears As Abuja Air Crash Victims Are Buried by agwom(op): 12:02pm On Feb 25, 2021*

Seven personnel of Nigerian Air Force who lost their lives in Sunday’s plane crash have been laid to rest.

They were buried at the National Military Cemetery, Lugbe, Airport Road, in the Federal Capital Territory, on Thursday morning.

Family members and friends of the deceased officers, including serving female military personnel, broke down in tears during the funeral.

The victims are the Captain, Flight Lieutenant Haruna Gadzama; Flight Lieutenant Henry Piyo (Co-Pilot); Flying Officer Micheal Okpara (Airborne Tactical Observation System Specialist) and Warrant Officer Bassey Etim (ATOS Specialist).

Others are: Flight Sergeant Olasunkanmi Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist); Sergeant Ugochukwu Oluka (ATOS Specialist) and Aircraftman Adewale Johnson (Onboard Technician).

Speaking with Daily Trust amid tears, Mrs Oluwasola Sola, elder sister of Olawunmi (ATOS Specialist), said her brother was on leave when he was called by his superior to come for an operation.

According to her, only him has been taking care of the entire family members, particularly their aged mother.

She said the victim left behind three children, including a one-year old son.

She recalled that only two persons were shortlisted by the Nigerian Air Force in the entire Ekiti State when Olawunmi joined the military in 2001.

Mrs Sola added that the victim recently complained of how the officers were being treated, promising to resign soon.

The Beechcraft King Air B350i in which the victims were flying crashed while en route to Minna to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions in connection with the rescue of the 42 students and staff abducted from the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal, Oladayo Amao; the minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed and many other top government functionaries were in attendance.

https://dailytrust.com/tears-as-abuja-air-crash-victims-are-buried

Politics › It’s Criminal To Go On Strike For One Year – Afe Babalola by agwom(op): 11:22am On Feb 25, 2021

The founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Are Babalola (SAN), has attributed the crises confronting the nation to decay in the country’s educational system .

Babalola spoke in Ado Ekiti, yesterday, while playing host simultaneously to leaders of Bursars’ Association of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology (BURSCON) and the Federal Government’s Gas Expansion Committee, who paid a courtesy call at ABUAD.

The BURSCON President, Chief Adolphus Obi, and the leader of the FG’s Gas Expansion Committee, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, applauded Babalola for laying a solid foundation for the growth of education in Nigeria.

Addressing the gathering of professionals, administrators and academics, the legal icon said: “The problem we have today is decay in quality education in this country. That was why after turning down ministerial appointments thrice, I agreed to go to University of Lagos as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council where I had an insight into what was happening to our education system .

“At times, they used to close down the schools under the guise of strike action for almost a year, this is criminal. I want to be an example, a leader in transformation of education and that was why I established ABUAD.

“Added to the foregoing was also our leaders who are very selfish. There are many Nigerians who could buy me, they are expected to set up a university like this to give functional education to Nigerians at affordable fees, but they never did.”

https://dailytrust.com/its-criminal-to-go-on-strike-for-one-year-afe-babalola

Politics › Fulani Not Terrorists – Sultan by agwom(op): 10:39am On Feb 25, 2021

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has said that Fulani are not terrorists.

He said this in Abuja yesterday when a courtesy visit to the management and staff of National Hajj Commission (NAHCON).

“I have earlier stood on this; we are not terrorists and criminals. Of course, we have some bandits amongst us and it does not make a clan or the whole Muslims as criminals or bandits.

“I am a proud Fulani and if I were to come back in this world again after I am gone, which definitely I wound not, I will ask Allah to bring me back as a Fulani man. I am a proud Fulani man but I am not a criminal, bandit or terrorist,” he said.

The sultan expressed optimism that the 2021 hajj would hold with the COVID-19 vaccines, urging Muslims not to contravene government protocols on the virus.

He noted that series of meetings were ongoing between Muslim scholars and the government on the assurance of the vaccines to convince Muslims on its safety.

Earlier, Chairman, NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, said the board was charting a way to free the government from the financial burden of the commission through partnerships with the private sector.

He said the Hajj Savings Scheme was intended to bring down costs of Hajj services for intending pilgrims and enable the poorest among Muslims to afford it.

https://dailytrust.com/fulani-not-terrorists-sultan

Politics › WAEC Yet To Release Result Of 70,000 Students In Kano Over Debt by agwom(op): 1:07pm On Feb 24, 2021

About one month after the West African Examination Council (WAEC) released the results of candidates who sat for its November/December examination, the fate of over 70,000 students in Kano State is still hanging in the balance, Daily Trust has learned.

It was gathered WAEC decided to withhold their results over the State government’s failure to settle their registration fees as earlier promised.

This, Daily Trust further learned, has made most of the affected candidates indecisive, especially those seeking admission into higher institutions with awaiting results.

A source in WAEC said the examination body has decided to hold on to the results until when the State government settles the registration fees, as it has released results of private candidates.

When Daily Trust correspondent contacted the State’s Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Sanusi Sa’id Kiru, he said he should wait till Wednesday evening when he will give an address on the issue.

Daily Trust reports that WAEC, on January 2021, released results of 1,209,992 candidates who took the examination across the country, where 894,101 candidates scored credits in English and Mathematics.

https://dailytrust.com/waec-yet-to-release-result-of-70000-students-in-kano-over-debt

Politics › With Adesina, Okonjo-iweala Nigeria Shines Again Under Buhari by agwom(op): 6:46am On Feb 24, 2021

Professor Ibrahim Gambari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, international relations guru and bureaucrat does not think we should wait for historians to do the assessment of the Buhari administration in the international arena given the limitations of the focus of many of them. “Now is the time to do it,” he insists.

We agree with many of the historians that the pursuit of closer foreign economic relations is no longer an option and the important need for an upward trajectory in bilateral relationship, first in our own neighbourhood and then in the world are key. This is what necessitated a whirlwind of visits around the world in the president’s first term.

Although these trips themselves became objects of controversy around the country, these engagements have given an image boost to Nigeria all around the world.

But while the historians and international relations scholars have given a significant part of their attention to the government’s efforts in rebuilding connectivity in our immediate and extended geographies and global engagements that have been spiced with Nigeria’s economic priorities, little attention was paid to the important undertaking of making Nigeria a global human resource powerhouse.

There is no doubt that there is so much that has been achieved in conventional international relations in the six years of the administration.

Africa remains the centrepiece of our foreign relations. Friendship and cooperation have replaced rivalry with big and small nations on the continent. The United Kingdom remains our most strategic partner. Despite the four convulsive years of the Trump presidency and its “America First” ideology, bilateral relations between our two nations have miraculously survived, intact. We have resumed an upward trajectory in relations with Germany, France, Turkey, Italy, Japan, India and Pakistan. With the coming of the Buhari administration, Nigeria has cemented relations with Russia and achieved a comprehensive partnership with China. Nigeria is warmly embraced by the Arab States and Iran.

However, despite the rising political profile of the country, losses have been suffered, as did other nations following the coronavirus pandemic, which for Nigeria, were accentuated by the fight against terrorism, Boko Haram and other threats to her security. Without doubt, the war against terror had limited Nigeria’s diplomacy to the extent that her external visibility in global and continental organisations was reduced to mere attendance of meetings related to such organisations only.

Two international events that shaped Nigeria’s path to progressive diplomacy are largely attributable to Mr. President’s personality and character. His post-inaugural visitations to our neighbouring countries of Chad, Niger and Benin Republics as well as Cameroon in 2015, led to the re-constitution of the Multinational Joint Task Force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and the expansion of its mandate to fight insecurity in the sub-region more concertedly. Prior to the election of 2015 in Nigeria, there was a stalemate in moving ahead but President Buhari’s victory in that year’s election, sufficiently diffused the stalemate and permitted Nigeria’s leadership of the MNJTF, which had previously been resisted, based on mistrust by some member-states of LCBC. The other event was the AfDB election in 2015. President Buhari’s strong support for the nomination by his predecessor in office of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and campaigns for him, ultimately assured his victory.

Regrettably, Nigeria could not consolidate on these initial diplomatic successes. In 2016, Nigeria’s attempt to clinch the prestigious position of Commissioner for Peace and Security of the African Union was a disaster as her candidate was comprehensively defeated, despite mounting very elaborate campaign efforts.

At the United Nations level on the other hand, Nigeria’s diplomacy continues to offer some hope. When former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s term ended and a new secretary-general was elected, he looked in the direction of Nigeria to choose a deputy and our Amina Mohammed, a former Minister of Environment, became the darling of the foremost global institution.

At the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the UN, Professor Tijjani Mohammed Bande, was unanimously elected as the president of the assembly. It was a defining moment for the UN as the world was soon afflicted by a pandemic, COVID-19. The impact of this pandemic on the world has been comprehensive and the dysfunctionality of the world was near complete. But the UN meetings dramatically continued through virtual sessions, ensuring that the global body remained relevant in the lives of humankind. The innovation was miraculous and Nigeria’s Professor Bande, as Permanent Representative and President of the General Assembly, who led these efforts, was appreciated for the roles he played in the world body and deservedly received the recognition and acknowledgement by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres as the “miracle of 2020.”

The re-election of Dr. Akinwuni Adesina as AfDB President in 2020 faced more herculean task as a superpower was bent on preventing his re-election. Despite pressure on President Buhari to replace him, Mr. President instead, reinforced his faith and commitment in Dr. Adesina’s candidacy and reached out to world leaders to canvas support. Mr. President’s adroit diplomacy paid off as Dr. Adesina had a landslide victory.

Nigeria’s progressive diplomatic leg-works within ECOWAS, first through support for the complicated peace process in Mali, to logistics support for practically all elections in the sub-region, to coordinating and providing leadership for good governance, accountability and the fight against corruption as well as managing efforts to contain the catastrophic consequences of COVID-19, earned Mr. President and Nigeria recognition, respect and appreciation. When Nigeria expressed interest in fielding a candidate for the position of Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union, Nigeria’s adroit diplomacy came to play once again, when all ECOWAS countries stepped down for Nigeria’s candidate, who obtained the support of ALL the African Union member-countries to clinch the position on 6th February, 2021.

Building on this foreign policy momentum, Nigeria made waves with the nomination of former Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General. The switch of candidates by Nigeria was seen as a master-stroke that finally paid off a few days ago, when she got the endorsement to be the first African and first lady to head the organisation.

The lesson in the rebound of Nigeria’s diplomacy lies in two great attributes. Respect and recognition for the nation’s leader and the determination to always present one of our best. President Buhari is deeply respected within the sub-region and the rest of Africa. He is measured in speaking but firm on his positions. He throws his weight around causes he deeply believes in and his brother-presidents cherish that. But, in all cases, the presentation of very good candidates is easier to sell as in the cases that have been referenced. Nigeria must keep the momentum and prioritise its global engagements for maximum benefits to Nigerians, Nigeria and Africa at large.

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

https://dailytrust.com/with-adesina-okonjo-iweala-nigeria-shines-again-under-buhari

Politics › Buhari: Cyber Terrorists Causing Anxiety In Nigeria by agwom(op): 6:33am On Feb 24, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari says Nigeria is witnessing a rise in threats posed by cybercriminals, online financial fraudsters and cyber terrorists who use the internet to cause apprehension.

He said this during the launch of the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021 at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

He called for an overhaul of the national strategy on cybersecurity with more emphasis on exploring the internet for economic growth opportunities, enhancement of knowledge and mitigation of crime.

He urged the National Security Adviser to continue to coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that the internet and cyberspace were used for the enhancement of national security and economic progression.

He said the Federal Government had taken some major policy decisions to increase penetration of the internet in the daily lives of citizens, particularly for the utilitarian purpose, with the launch of the National Broadband Plan 2020 – 2025 in March 2020; National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy 2020 – 2030; National Identity Program, Treasury Single Account and Bank Verification Number schemes.

“All these initiatives serve as enablers for tackling many of the economic and security challenges facing our country while also providing us with the platform to improve accountability and transparency in our unwavering resolve to tackle corruption.

“However, like many other countries across the globe, the growth and development of the internet is accompanied by significant problems.

He said the internet and social media had witnessed a surge in the propagation of hate speech, fake news, seditious and treasonable messages, as well as the risks of breaches to personal information and government sensitive data.

He said the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy 2021 would provide the necessary platform to effectively confront the dynamic nature of threats in our cyberspace.

“The document will also provide the framework that would enable us to harness the efforts of our private sector, academia and industry towards progressive economic and national development.

“To this end, the document will provide the platform for technical education, digital skills acquisition and indigenous technology production, thereby creating job opportunities for our youth and supporting our resolve to alleviate poverty and boost our economy,’’ Buhari said.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, said there had been a surge in the use of the internet, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown around the world, with increasing waves of crimes, irregular migration and threats to border security.

Monguno said many platforms including banking, communication and military had come under more threat, with personal information easily distorted and explored, necessitating a review of the 2014 National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy (NCPS).

The NSA said the reviewed document will work towards mitigating the “suffocating presence and unpredictable threats’’ of cybercrimes.

https://dailytrust.com/cyber-terrorists-causing-anxiety-in-nigeria-buhari

Politics › Isa Yuguda: Fulani Are Being Treated Unfairly In Nigeria by agwom(op): 11:04am On Feb 23, 2021

A former Governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has condemned the profiling of Fulani herdsmen as criminals.

In an interview with journalists shortly after his revalidation as a member of the All Progressives Congress, at the Destination Bauchi Hotel, on Monday, the former governor said Fulani herdsmen are being treated unfairly in Nigeria.

He said herdsmen, who have provided the country with a minimum of one million cattle to slaughter daily, have been neglected by the federal government over the years.

According to him, if the government could release huge sums of money as subsidies in agriculture, why can’t the government subsidise pastoralism?

“The neglect of the Fulani especially the cattle rearers who are presently giving Nigeria a minimum of one million cattle every day to slaughter and take as beef, their treatment by the Nigerian people have been most unfair,” he said.

“Most unfair in the sense that, at the time when Lord Luggard finished conquering northern Nigeria, they were the only source of revenue. They provided the revenue that jumpstarted development in terms of monopolizing infrastructure in the north including Benue state where they have been chased out now.
‌
“They are pastoralists, they are people who provide beef for the country and you can see them as agricultural ventures or animal husbandry. There have been billions and trillions of investments in agriculture, in the forms of subsidies for fertilizer and so on, have you ever heard the federal government subsidizing pastoralism?

“What I am saying, in essence, is that the Nigerian state has not been fair to these people. When the white man came, he respected them because they were his source of revenue, not only that he provided cattle routes from Maiduguri to Otukpo, from Sokoto to Lokoja and Ilorin and these infrastructures were provided by the white people.

“So, let us stop being sentimental, for goodness sake, otherwise, this country will crumble and it is crumbling in your hands, and I am afraid, you the press are the people creating these problems. You have to save this country for yourselves, you are the young ones, or else, you’ll inherit no country,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/isa-yuguda-fulani-are-being-treated-unfairly-in-nigeria

Crime › We Saw Hell In Captivity — Freed Niger Passengers by agwom(op): 10:11am On Feb 23, 2021

The abducted passengers of the Niger State Transport Authority bus, who regained freedom from captivity on Sunday, have narrated their ordeals in the hands of their captors.

They told journalists in Minna on Monday that their experience was terrible and horrible.

One of them, Hajia Jummai Isah, said: “They were threatening us and beating the men.

“They really beat the hell out of the men, but all they wanted from us was money.

“They kept demanding money from us so that they would spare us, if not, they said they’d kill us. They used to give us dirty water to drink from the stream.

“Their ammunition is out of this world. I’d never seen that kind of arms before in my life. They’ve different kinds of assorted weapons.”

Muhammed Kindagi, a civil servant with the Niger State Science and Technical School Board, said: “If we ate in the morning, we wouldn’t eat another one till evening, with contaminated water to drink.

“We were sleeping on bare floors in the bush. We were not tied, but guns were pointed at our heads and they were beating us constantly every day.

“They beat our women too. There was one useless one among them who didn’t bother whether you’re a woman or a man before he started beating you.

“They beat us with sticks. As they’re beating us, they’re asking us to bring money.

“They asked us to forgive them and we said we forgave them. We asked them to forgive us too so that we could leave the bush.”

Another freed passenger, Hamza Muhammed Buhari, said: “They starved us because they only gave us handful of food that was not enough.

“We cooked rice with contaminated water, while about ten of us took a bottle of contaminated water. We were tortured daily. It was indeed bad and terrible.”

The freed passengers had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the 27 students, three staff and family members of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State abducted last Wednesday were still in captivity as of the time of filing this report yesterday.

Father of slain Kagara student speaks

The father of the boy killed by bandits during the Government Science College Kagara’s attack, Ayuba Dansabe Bawa, said the incident would not deter him from sending his other children to school.

He spoke during a condolence visit to him by the Niger State Commissioner for Education, Hannatu Jibrin Salihu.

Niger is under-policed – Gov Bello

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello yesterday said the state was grossly under-policed.

He spoke in Minna when federal lawmakers from the state paid him a condolence/solidarity visit over bandits’ attacks in the state.

He said statistics within his reach showed that “There are only 4,000 policemen to cover the entire Niger State.

“There used to be 14,000 policemen in the state before, and by now, we should be talking above 14,000 we used to have, especially with the upsurge of all forms of criminalities in Niger State.

“More importantly is that government should invest more in technology to manage security,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/we-saw-hell-in-captivity-freed-niger-passengers

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Politics › Re: Re: Years After Zaria Killings:victims Of Army, Shi’ite Clash Await Compensation by agwom(m): 9:12am On Feb 22, 2021

Hmmm

Crime › Bandits Kill Father, Son In Kaduna, Set Church On Fire by agwom(op): 4:05am On Feb 22, 2021

Bandits have attacked Baka village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing a father and his son.

They also abducted nine people in the community which recorded its second attack within eight days.

Kaduna State Government on Sunday confirmed that the bandits, who were operating in groups attacked the family residence of the late Dan’azumi Musa who was killed alongside his son, and killed Dan’azumi’s brother, Sale Musa and his son, Amiru Sale Musa.

The state Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the bandits had initially abducted 22 people from the community but troops based in the Sabon Birni area engaged them and rescued 13 captives in the process.

Aruwan, however, stated that at the time the 13 victims were rescued, another group of bandits escaped with a set of nine hostages, mostly women and children.

He said those presently in captivity are Saudatu Garba, Laraba Idris, Auta Mansur, Ibrahim Danlami, Hauwa Sale, Fatima Idris, Safara Sale, Shafaatu Idris (infant) and Fiddausi Mansur (infant).

The commissioner said Governor Nasir El-Rufai has conveyed his grief over the repeated attacks and condoled the family of the slain father and son, while offering prayers for the repose of their souls.

He said El-Rufai also commended the troops for their quick response and thanked them for the safe rescue of 13 victims.

Raze church building, 2 houses in Kaduna

Meanwhile, bandits have razed a church and two houses in Kikwari village in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna.

While confirming the attack, the Kaduna Government stated that some locals fled the area on receiving information that the bandits were sighted outside the village.

He identified the affected place of worship as the Holy Family Catholic Church, saying on receiving the report, the governor commiserated with the community and condemned the setting ablaze of the place of worship.

“He charged worshippers to remain strong in their faith and devotion, and see it as an act perpetrated by enemies of peace, humanity and diversity who will not succeed but will be defeated by the grace of God,” he said.

The commissioner added .that El-Rufai had directed the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency to urgently assess the damage done and take appropriate action while security agencies will sustain patrols in the area.

https://dailytrust.com/bandits-kill-father-son-in-kaduna-set-church-on-fire

Politics › Ibrahim Attahiru Gives Troops 48-Hours Ultimatum To Recover Marte, Others by agwom(op): 3:58am On Feb 22, 2021

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru has given 48 hours ultimatum to the troops of the Nigerian Army, Operation Lafiya Dole, to clear Marte Local Government Area of Borno State, which was recently attacked and taken over by the Boko Haram sect.

He also directed the troops to clear Kirenowa, Kirta, Wulgo, Chikingudo communities of Marte and Ngala LGAs in the state.

Attahiru gave the ultimatum on Sunday while addressing troops of the Nigerian Army Super Camp 9, Dikwa.

He said: “areas around Marte, Chikingudu, Wulgo Kirenowa and Kirta must be cleared in the next 48 hours.

“You should be rest assured of all support you required in this very onerous task.

“I have just spoken to the Theater Commander and the General Officer Commanding 7 Division, you must not let this nation down. Go back and do the needful and I will be right behind you.

“You are aware of the recent attack on Dikwa and Marte, you should not allow this to happen again, go after them and clear these bastards,” Attahiru said.

While appreciating the efforts of the troops in the fight against Boko Haram, the COAS said: “I am here to deliver the greetings of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces, Muhammadu Buhari. I have spoken with your Commanders, we are going to provide you the equipment and weapons you need to end this war.

“We are also going to address the issue of overstay in the theater. No more issue of overstay.”

https://dailytrust.com/coas-gives-troops-48-hours-ultimatum-to-recover-marte-others

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Politics › Kagara Abduction: 52-Year-Old Kagara School In Sorry State by agwom(op): 7:57am On Feb 19, 2021

How I watched gunmen kill my friend – Student
* Abductors operated for 2 hrs, police post nearby – Source
* Police involve hunters in rescue mission

The 52-year-old Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, where 42 people including students, staff and their families were abducted on Wednesday, is in a state of disrepair, Daily Trust reports.

Our correspondent who was at the school on the day of the abduction reports that the condition of the school and location made it a potential risk and attractive for the men of the underworld.

Established in 1969, the boarding school, surrounded by bushes, is located in the outskirt of Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area in Southern Senatorial District of Niger State.

The school, looking like an abandoned village destroyed during a war, is about 3 hours’ drive (114.1 km) via Minna – Zungeru and Minna-Maikunlele road.

Right from the main gate, the collapsed fence, hostels, quarters and classrooms revealed the terrible state of the school where students are learning.

Sources said most of the over 1,000 students in the school are children of the poor from Kagara and neighbouring villages who have no means of going elsewhere.

Some of them interviewed said they had no alternative and rather than leaving their wards at home, they sent them to the dilapidated school where “only unfortunate teachers and other workers” were deployed.

During its good old days, the GSC Kagara had produced many students who have made names and landmark achievement in life. One of them is Senator Shehu Sani who represented Kaduna State in the Senate between 2015 and 2019.

It was, however, observed that the school since inception has not received any major maintenance thereby leaving the staff and students at the mercy of bandits and diseases.

The fence around the school has completely collapsed and therefore accessible by anyone from any side.

All the hostels have shrunken with some of the roofs caved in, doors and windows broken even as the students have no option than to indulge in open defecation considering that the toilets are not fit for human use.

Other buildings in the school like the library, laboratories and others have no good windows or doors. Reptiles and other harmful animals easily encroach.

It’s only a school in name

One of the parents, whose daughter was among those kidnapped, Mr Kamid Ahmed, bemoaned the condition of the school.

He said: “The place is not secured for the students at all because there is no fence; so criminals can enter at any time but we hope the government will do something.

“In my daughter’s house, I know that they are seven in number including with my co-examiner, Mallam Lawal, Mallama Hanatu and Mallam Dodo who were posted here from another school. Mallam Lawal is the current examiner of the school.”

“We haven’t established any contact with my daughter. The husband escaped narrowly but for her and others, no one has heard anything. He was the first person to be kidnapped in the house, they took them to the hostel, and he then escaped when they were rounding up the students,” he said.

An eyewitness, who doesn’t want to be named, explained that the gunmen stormed the school around 2 am in military uniform and parked their bikes some kilometres away near another school called Attahiru Secondary School.

The source said that the abductees were tied with ropes in twos to make it difficult for anyone to escape.

Aliyu Isa, who is one of those who escaped, said he removed his cloth so that they won’t see him when he made up his mind to escape, adding that attackers kept shooting sporadically while they were running into the bush.

How I watched gunmen kill my friend – Student

A student, who narrowly escaped abduction, told the BBC Hausa Service how his friend was gunned down in front of him and others.

He said around 2 am, his friends woke up when he learnt that some strange persons were heading towards the school premises holding lamps.

“At that time, my friend woke me up saying some people are approaching through the backyard of the school compound. He suggested that we should go and find out but I advised that he should not be apprehensive. I told him to go back to bed but he snubbed me. He took torchlight and flashed at them and they swiftly put off their torchlights,” the student, who pleaded anonymity, said.

According to him, “Up till the moment they entered the hostel, we couldn’t realise that they are kidnappers. They swung into waking students up pointing guns at them and warning that whoever moves or shouts would be shot dead instantly. At that time, one student learnt that they must have been gangsters; he then shouted urging his colleagues to run for their dear lives as bandits had infringed, this was when the students started running.

‘‘A friend of mine who left me a moment before their arrival encountered them. As he was trying to run through the window, they opened fire on him three times; one at his head, the second at his back and the last one hit his stomach to the extent that his brain popped out. It was indeed a gory scene,’’ he said.

The student said he and few others hid in a leeway inside their dormitory and were lucky not to have been sighted by the attackers.

“What rattled and saddened me was how my friend was killed in my presence. I could see his body lying before me. I wept profusely,” he said.

Some parents of the abducted students while narrating the torments they are going through said they received the news of the abduction with shock.

One of them said: “It is around 7 am when another parent whose son was abducted told me that gunmen had stormed GSS Kagara. We are really in distress since it was reported that some students had sneaked into the bush whilst others were with them. So, we started thinking about whether our child had escaped into the bush or is with the abductors.

“By dusk, one of the teachers phoned us informing that our child is among those that were abducted. We were thinking of going to Kagara, but we later cancelled the plan since we have nothing to do there. We are now appealing to the authorities to come to our aid. We are helpless; let them find means to rescue our children,” he said.

Abductors operated for 2 hrs, police post nearby – Source

Sources on Thursday disclosed that a police station was few miles away from the school while bandits operated for two hours.

One of the sources condemned how the police didn’t show up until the bandits went away with the victims.

He alleged: “The police station is just like two kilometres away from the school. Of course, gunshots must have alerted them that something terrible was happening nearby. The bandits operated for two hours in the school during that wee hour.”

He also condemned the Niger State Government for neglecting people of the area and wondered if any officials will allow his ward to study there.

Meanwhile, the Niger State House of Assembly said it is backing the state governor for ruling out ransom and other forms of gratified negotiations for kidnappers.

The Speaker, Bawa Wase, made this known during plenary on Thursday.

Police incorporate hunters in rescue mission

The Nigeria Police Force has deployed the first phase of Operation Adder II to Niger State to rescue the abducted victims.

It said they will embark on the well-planned deployment of four units of Police Mobile Force and Special Forces alongside other operational assets to crime-prone local government areas in the state.

Speaking during the flag-off of the special operation in Minna, Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Usman said the special security troops will reinforce the ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in the state.

“We will deploy them to all the red flag points. We had problems with inadequate personnel in the past but that is no longer a problem with the coming of these troops. They will be deployed to Munya, Munya, Shiroro, Mariga and the Lapai-Agaie axis.”

“We are also using the locals. We have mobilised the vigilantes and the police will work with the vigilantes.” he said.

The police commissioner said the abductors were still with their abductors, adding that the security agencies were working tirelessly to bring them back.

According to him, “The abducted victims are still there, we are trying to reinforce and with the deployment of these special troops, we will rescue the victims.

“Everything is being properly handled. We have deployed troops to where they (abductors) are, we know what is happening and we are monitoring them.

“We have a lot of personnel in the area both land and air. This reinforcement will also assist and go a long way in ensuring that we rescue the victims.”

From Romoke W. Ahmad (who was in Kagara), Dalhatu Liman (Abuja) & Zahraddeen Yakubu (Kano)

https://dailytrust.com/niger-abduction-52-year-old-kagara-school-in-sorry-state

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Politics › Insurgency May Not End In 20 Years, Says Buratai by agwom(op): 7:26pm On Feb 18, 2021

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd.), on Thursday said the Boko Haram insurgency may not end in 20 years time.

He said the terrorists have, for a long time, indoctrinated the people, making it difficult to defeat them within a short period.

Buratai spoke when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening as non-career ambassadors-designate.

The former army chief said though Nigerian troops in collaboration with their counterparts in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger, have been recording successes in anti-Boko Haram war, military onslaught alone cannot end the crisis.

Buratai said there are political and socio-economic factors that need to be addressed, adding that many communities in northern Nigeria lacked basic amenities.

“Our troops are also collaborating with Chadian and Cameroonian troops. We recorded successes. But the terrorists have permeated into the society.

“My state (Borno) is an epicentre where this indoctrination has penetrated so deep. It is not something you can get right over night.

“Only the military cannot solve this problem. There were socio-economic factors that need to be addressed. There should be basic amenities, but they are missing.

“I can count five local government areas in Borno without good road. The same thing is in Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto. In other northern states there are so many ungovernable spaces, because of lack of access road and other basic amenities.

“This crisis might not end in 20 years time. We have achieved a lot of successes but we cannot continue to use the same tactics and achieve different results,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/buratai-insurgency-may-not-end-in-20-yrs

Politics › Re: Former Comptroller General Of the Nigerian Customs Servuce Dikko Inde Is Dead by agwom(m): 7:14pm On Feb 18, 2021

Gathering of materials things.... cry

Politics › Re: Abdullahi Dikko Inde Is Dead by agwom(m): 7:09pm On Feb 18, 2021

Politics › Post Military Personnel To All Schools — Atiku by agwom(op): 7:25am On Feb 18, 2021

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday in a statement, called on the Federal Government to post armed military personnel at all schools “for 24/7 protection.”

Atiku condemned the abduction of the students and staff of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.

He asked the Federal Government to declare all secondary and primary schools in the affected states and zones as federal protected zones.

“If it’s not feasible to have armed military guards in all schools, then each state in the should as a matter of urgency replicate the Civilian Joint Task Force idea, that has worked so well in Borno, and deploy them to each school, along with men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“What we must not do is do nothing. History may forgive us for making wrong decisions, but we’ll never be forgiven if we carry on business as usual.

“As a nation, we must be willing to provide the same level of security that we provide for the schools that the children of the elite attend, for schools that the children of other classes of Nigerians attend.”

He also said: “The spate of insecurity in Nigeria is now beyond alarming. It has gotten to crisis levels, especially when it involves children and other minors.

“Now is not the time for fingers to point in blame. Our nation needs solutions. And we have now seen that paying ransoms, and allowing criminals to profit from their criminality is not a solution.

“When you reward crimes, the end result is more crime.

“The only long term solution to the insecurity challenge Nigeria is facing is to end the reign of impunity.

“The Federal Government must enforce the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against abductions and kidnappings, by apprehending the criminals, trying them and making an example of those convicted, to serve as a deterrent to others.”

https://dailytrust.com/post-military-personnel-to-all-schools-atiku

Politics › Kagara School Abduction: FG, Niger Government In Talks With Kidnappers by agwom(op): 7:11am On Feb 18, 2021

The federal and Niger State governments are using a third party to reach out to the bandits who abducted schoolboys and their teachers at the Government Science College Kagara, Daily Trust authoritatively gathered.

The armed men raided the school in the early hours of Wednesday and left with some students, staff and their families.

Governor Sani Bello who addressed the press on Wednesday said 27 students, three staff and 12 members of their families were abducted. The school has a population of over 1,000 students.

One of the students, Benjamin Doma, was gunned down while trying to escape. The abductors reportedly left him behind in the pool of his blood as they shepherded the abducted students and teachers to the bush.

The Kagara abduction was carried out less than three months after the kidnapping of over 300 students at Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in nearby Katsina State.

The students were released few days after amidst allegations that a huge ransom was paid, a claim denied by the federal and Katsina State governments.

Rescue on course

Sources familiar with efforts to rescue the kidnapped Kagara victims, who craved for anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, confided in our reporter that a decision was reached to use back door channels to secure the release of the abductees.

One of the sources said officials have reached out to some Fulani leaders and repentant bandits who have contacts with the bandits in order to negotiate the release of the victims.

It was learnt that two prominent repentant Fulani bandits from Katsina and Zamfara States have been drafted to reach out to the kidnappers.

“Already some breakthroughs are being made. We were able to establish that the abductors were Fulani boys from one of the camps in Kaduna forests, bordering Niger to the south and Zamfara to the north. We have made contacts already,” one of the sources said.

“But the major snag now is getting them to agree easily because in Kaduna there is no trust between the bandits and the government. But persons with the reach are working on creating an avenue to sit with leaders of the abductors, the elders who can force them into acceding to the request,” he said.

A senior security official said air patrol has been intensified along the borders between Kaduna and Niger State.

“There is vast forest traversing Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger States, which makes movement along the corridor very easy for the bandits operating in those states,” he said.

The Principal of the school, Dan Asabe Ebaidu, said on Wednesday that the number of bandits that stormed the school could not be ascertained.

He said that they were dressed in army uniforms and rounded up the students in the hostel.

Ebaidu said he had never witnessed something like this throughout his years as principal.

He said that he managed to escape when the kidnappers stormed the staff quarters, which was why they abducted some members of staff and their families.

He said after raiding the staff quarters, the abductors headed to the students’ hostels.

Ebaidu noted that they were able to gain access into the school easily because it was porous.

Speaking with Daily Trust, another witness said the gunmen gathered some staff and students at a place for hours before moving them out of the school premises.

Some students were said to have escaped while being led to an unknown destination.

One of the abducted staff, simply identified as Batagi, was said to have escaped from his captors.

Some of those still in captivity were identified as Lawal, Ali, Hannatu and her husband, Dodo, and Mohammed Abubakar (Akawu).

Kagara is the headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area in Southern Senatorial district of Niger State. It is about 3 hours’ drive (114.1 km) via Minna – Zungeru Rd and Minna-Maikunlele road.

Sources said the bandits that stormed the Kagara school were those terrorising the Birnin Gwari area of the state.

Niger has been in the news of recent over incessant attacks occasioned by kidnapping and killing. Minna, the state capital is 2 hr 48 min (151.6 km) to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

We know the abductors – IGP

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has described what happened in Niger State as a source of concern.

He was among the federal government delegation to Niger State to review the Wednesday’s abduction in Kagara.

The IGP said different strategies were being put in place to address the situation.

“We have restrategised. We are working to ensure that the students are returned unharmed. We are using the same strategy as we used in the past case but it won’t stop us from apprehending those who committed the act. We have deployed our units of mobile policemen to reinforce security in the state. The group that perpetrated the incident, we know the group and we will get the people back unharmed,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, who led the delegation to Minna, disclosed that they were sent by President Buhari to assure the people and government of Niger State and Nigeria that the administration will ensure the safety of lives and property in the country.

“We are glad that the government is exploring kinetic and non-kinetic options to ensure the safe release of the victims. We will deploy all resources to ensure the safe release of the victims. We want to assure Nigerians that we will not surrender our sovereignty but will employ all means to ensure the safe release of all the victims across Nigeria,” Lai Mohammed said.

Other members of the delegation included the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno; and Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi.

On his part, NSA Monguno said the federal government will deploy everything at its disposal, including reconciliatory measures to ensure the students returned safely. He recalled that within a span of 90 days, Nigeria had recorded two cases of abduction of students.

According to him, “The president is ready to apply whatever it takes to make Nigeria safe and secure. Our response to these incidents would be measured. We will apply the non -kinetic measures but although we are looking at non-kinetic measures does not mean that security won’t carry out their statutory measures, which is to safeguard the security of Nigerians for as long as this government remains in this office, by applying every measure to secure the lives of the people.

“No responsible government will relinquish its sovereignty to bandits, kidnappers, and insurgents. That is not something that the government will apply. There are too many issues involved in our security challenges and there will be series of efforts to resolve them.”

https://dailytrust.com/school-abduction-fg-niger-govt-in-talks-with-kagara-kidnappers

Politics › Buhari Tells New Envoys To Treat Nigerians Abroad With Dignity by agwom(op): 6:42am On Feb 17, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged the ambassadors-designate, consuls-general and charge’ D’ affaires entitre to attend to all Nigerian citizens visiting the country’s missions with utmost dignity, respect and promptness, and provide necessary assistance with courtesy, commitment and efficiency.

He gave the directive while speaking virtually from the State House at their induction/orientation exercise held at the National Intelligence Agency auditorium, Abuja.

Buhari had last month approved and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to post 95 new ambassadors, to serve in the country’s missions abroad.

He called them to project Nigeria as a great country and a good investment destination in their various places of assignment.

“You must not forget that you’ve been posted to respective bilateral and multilateral missions, to represent and project Nigeria as a great and indivisible nation and a very attractive investment destination,” he said.

https://dailytrust.com/treat-nigerians-abroad-with-dignity-buhari-tells-new-envoys

Politics › Ethnic Crisis: Don’t Attack Southerners In The North – Northern Governors by agwom(op): 6:22am On Feb 17, 2021

The Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), on Monday, asked people in the North not to take revenge on Southerners living in any part of the North, saying such action will not solve the current problem the country is facing.

The forum said no provocation should make anyone attack people in the region, assuring that it was doing everything possible to address the problem that happened to Northerners in Oyo State.

Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State who is the chairman of the forum, made the appeal during a meeting between the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and NSGF at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The forum was reacting to the recent crisis between Yoruba and Hausa traders in Sasha Market, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Gov Lalong said, “This meeting becomes necessary and has become part of our engagement since the issue of threat on quit notice began from different groups in the country. We engage leaders from the North to find solutions and calm down the current tension following the crisis that erupted in Oyo State.

“There is no gain in taking revenge on Southerners living in the North. We have sent a delegation to Oyo to ascertain the situation and the truth about what happened. By God’s grace we will get to the bottom of the problem. The country belongs to all of us. We don’t want people to tell others to leave the region. This is totally unacceptable.

“We just came back from Kaduna after meeting with stakeholders from the North West and security agencies. So, our discussion with Northern Elders Forum this evening is fruitful. We had agreement on how to find out ways to calm down the North and assure our Northern brothers that measures are being taken. We also talked about what the states and federal government should do regarding the problem.”

In his remarks, NEF’s spokesman, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, while asking the people from the North to exercise restraint, called on the leaders from the Southern part of the country, especially the governors, to give fair treatment to Northerners residing in the South.

Ahmed said, “We came here to lay down the complaints for the Northerners and seek for support, and we got assurance that they are on top of the situation. The Northern elders have been consistent that people from the North should not take the law into their hands.”

https://dailytrust.com/ethnic-crisis-dont-attack-southerners-in-the-north-northern-govs

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Politics › MACBAN: We Want Criminals Flushed Out Of Forests by agwom(op): 6:56am On Feb 16, 2021

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Southeast zone, has expressed its readiness to support the authorities to go after criminals and rid the forests and cities of such bad elements in order to make life better for everyone.

Its chairman, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, stated this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu.

He reiterated the MACBAN’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful coexistence between its members and their host communities.

He said that as a trade group, no member of the association would willingly do anything to jeopardise the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

“As Nigerians, we should focus of those positive ideals that are mutually beneficial to all,” Siddiki said.

Siddiki said that members of the association had a good relationship with the people of the area in spite of some isolated cases of misunderstanding.

He said that their interest in the area was purely economic, adding that no herder is interested in contesting for the ownership of land with members of their host communities.

On the issue of insecurity, Siddiki commended state governments in the Southeast for securing the area against banditry.

He said that there was no denying the fact that governments at all levels had put much efforts into finding solution to the challenge in parts of the country.

He, however, said that much still needed to be done to ensure that law abiding citizens, including herders, were free to carry out their businesses without encumbrances.

According to him, the time for Nigerians to unite and seek avenues to douse the raging tension and insecurity in parts of the country is now.

He said that as cattle breeders, “We only ask for a secure environment to do our business. (NAN)

https://dailytrust.com/we-want-criminals-flushed-out-of-forests-miyetti-allah

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Politics › Many Herdsmen Being Prosecuted For Alleged Killings — Garba Shehu by agwom(op): 6:23am On Feb 16, 2021

The Presidency yesterday said many herdsmen were undergoing trials and prosecuted in several parts of Nigeria for alleged killings and criminal activities.

A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, said this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, monitored by our reporter.

He was reacting to reports that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s silence on the farmers-herders crisis parts of the country was bolstering and shielding crimes allegedly committed by herders.

Shehu challenged the Nigeria Police Force to publish names of herders undergoing trials.

He also said the president was not complicit in the herdsmen crisis.

“The president is more than concerned of the ongoing situation, he is fully conscious of the fact that it is the responsibility of his government to work with Nigerians to secure lives and stop the ongoing crisis whether they are kidnappings or the new line of ethnic violence. He condemns it and he does not support it.

“Having spoken against it, it follows that all security agencies must take their line of action from the president’s remark and do that which is necessary which is to stop the escalation of the violent attacks being witnessed in some parts of the country and ensure that it does not go beyond where it has been recorded.”

Shehu described comments made against the president as “uncharitable”, stating that the rise in criminal activities was because the military was overstretched as “they are active in at least 34 of the 36 states of the federation.”

https://dailytrust.com/many-herdsmen-being-prosecuted-for-alleged-killings-presidency

Politics › Buhari Orders Arrest, Prosecution Of Illegal Arms Bearers by agwom(op): 6:25am On Feb 10, 2021

President Muhumaadu Buhari has ordered arrest and prosecution of all illegal arms bearers in the country irrespective of their ethnic affiliation.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, yesterday disclosed this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme monitored by our reporter.

Daily Trust had exclusively reported on Sunday that proliferation of arms was fuelling insecurity across the country.

Adesina said the president has zero tolerance for criminal elements and would not harbour anyone found wanting by security agencies.

“The president has always held the stance that anyone seen carrying a gun unlawfully should be arrested and tried regardless of where he comes from,” he said.

On the efforts of the Presidency towards bringing an end to the herdsmen’s crisis, Adesina said: “Some positions have been canvassed on settling this issue, the president has spoken about it. The old cattle routes we know have been taken over by civilization. So, it means we will have to look into ranching.

“Governor Ortom, in the past, had said that ranching is the way out of the crisis, but suddenly, he turned around that there is no land for it. Another alternative was the RUGA settlement, but people came out to say that there is no land for it. Now, some are saying that cattle rearing is a private business so the government must not be involved in it.

“That brings the question: Are we interested in settling these issues permanently to the good of all the sides? That is something we must consider.”

https://dailytrust.com/buhari-orders-arrest-prosecution-of-illegal-arms-bearers

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