Banks close as demonstrations over the lack of new notes rattle Kogi

On Wednesday, some commercial banks in Kogi remained closed after customers staged nonviolent demonstrations over their inability to obtain cash for daily needs.

Affected banks along IBB Way include GTB, Unity, Zenith, Access, and Unity Bank, all closed for the day.

Numerous consumers in Lokoja protested banks, urging them to stop reporting “no money” every day or modify it.
Customers informed media that the demonstration was in response to claims that banks had blatantly disobeyed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) order by refusing to give or dispense the redesigned naira notes to customers.

An anonymous staff of the bank voiced worry about the false perception that consumers had regarding commercial banks in relation to the non-availability of the new naira notes.

As things stand, we have no choice but to skip work today because the agitated clients have locked us out, she bemoaned.

At the banks along the same IBB Way, Polaris, UBA, Eco, and Fidelity, which were open for business, the scenario is different.
In contrast to those boycotted, it was learned that the few banks attempted to give consumers access to cash to some level.

Spend old notes as usual; Tinubu will reverse decision when he wins: El-Rufai

Nasiru El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna, has advised people to disobey the Central Bank’s order and carry on using older denominations of the naira notes that the top bank is disposing of. When Bola Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate, is elected, the policy would be changed, according to him.

The Kaduna governor remarked in Hausa, “Everyone, especially residents in Kaduna, should not be worried because of the naira swap deadline.” “Continue managing your businesses and day-to-day operations with whatever notes you have, whether they are new or old.”

And as soon as we win the election, we’ll make sure to address this issue, he continued. If we win the election, that will be the first problem we address.

When addressing a political gathering in his state, Mr. El-Rufai made the claim and urged them to quit swarming banks to exchange their old notes or receive new ones.

As a key component of its new cash strategy, the CBN under Godwin Emefiele had announced that former denominations of the N200, N500, and N1000 notes would no longer be accepted as legal tender in Nigeria as of February 10. Due to the extreme scarcity of the new notes, the move has left many Nigerians in a difficult situation.

“Don’t push yourself into going to the bank with old naira bills and wasting time in the pointless lines. Nobody can prevent you from using the notes, Mr. El-Rufai assured the audience.

“We’ll give people extra time to get rid of the old naira notes when we get to power, (Insha Allah), if Bola Tinubu becomes the president.”

The Federal Government approves use of Hijab for female Muslim students

The Federal Government has approved the use of Hijab for female Muslim students. The Federal Ministry of Education’s Permanent Secretary, Andrew David Adejo, wrote this in a circular dated February 1, 2023.

According to the circular “This is to bring to your notice that the Ministry has approved the use of corporate/cape size hijab as part of school uniform by female Muslim students in all the Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Science and Technical Colleges.”

All 112 Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Science and Technical Colleges in the nation received the circular, which Middle Belt Times was able to obtain.

He clarified that any of the authorized school uniforms may be worn with a corporate/cape-size hijab by pupils at the schools.

Recall that in March 4 2022, the Cable reported that Usman Baba, the Nigeria Police Force’s inspector general of police (IGP), has approved a new dress code that permits female officers to wear the hijab (NPF).

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force spokeswoman, had stated that the new clothing code was announced on Thursday during a meeting with the IGP and “strategic police management.”

The new dress code, according to Adejobi, was adopted to ensure gender equality in the police for “optimum output and professionalism”.

Supreme Court postpones CBN’s old naira notes deadline of February 10

The three APC-controlled states of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara petitioned the Supreme Court, which issued the ruling

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was given a directive by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to postpone the 10 February deadline for the use of old naira notes.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a seven-member court panel chaired by John Okoro issued the temporary injunction due to a severe shortage of freshly redesigned N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes.

In a decision on an exparte suit filed by the three states of Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara, a seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro halted the federal government proposal.

This comes as the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), the CBN, its Governor Godwin Emefiele, and 27 commercial banks were prohibited by a Federal Capital Territory High Court from suspending, stopping, extending, or meddling with the currency swap terminal date.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom had earlier joined the National Assembly to call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline for the removal of old Naira notes from circulation until June 2023.

Atiku to the people of Benue: If you vote for me, I’ll make sure the Fulani sign a peace agreement with you

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaking on Monday during the party’s campaign rally in the state, said if the people of Benue voted him, he would make sure Fulani signed a peace pact with the people of the state.

He stated, “I am the umbrella of Tiv people worldwide. If you vote for me, I will make sure peace return to Benue State. I will come to the state and make sure Fulani signs a peace pact with the people of the state.”

“Benue state is the food basket of this country. Today, our farmers in Benue do not go to farm again because of insecurity. I will make sure security returns to Benue state.

“I also promise you that by the grace of God, the issue of unemployment of our young men and women will be a thing of the past. That is why in my policy document, I said we are going to allocate 10 billion US dollars to empower our young men and women with enterprises.

He also promised the residents of Benue State that he would repair the federal roads that ran through the state, reopen the state’s railway line, and prevent the Academic Staff Union of Universities from going on strike.

The PDP which is currently experiencing a crisis, and Samuel Ortom, the State Governor, his deputy, Benson Abounu, commissioners, aides, and the 22 local government chairmen of the state were all notably absent from the state’s Atiku Abubakar campaign event.

However, National chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, a native of the state, Senator Gabriel Suswam, a former governor of the state, Senator David Mark, a former president of the Senate, and the three senators from Zones A, B, and C—Suswam, Orker Jev, and Abba Moro—were present.

Titus Uba and John Ngbede, the party’s nominee for governor and his running mate, as well as a few members of the state working committee, also attended the gathering.

Ayu urged Ortom, who had not backed Atiku, to work with the party in order to preserve the nation during his speech at the event.

Ortom had maintained in January that the five aggrieved governors would not support Atiku Abubakar in the election on February 25.

Lalong dismisses herdsmen’s takeover of communities in Plateau

The governor of the Plateau has refuted circulating allegations that herdsmen have taken control of several of the region’s settlements.

At a service to commemorate the 2023 Plateau Forgiveness Day on Sunday at St. Monica Catholic Church in Jos, the governor took advantage of the opportunity to address allegations being made that the State’s government had done nothing to stop herdsmen from occupying some villages and taking control of others.

He refuted the claim and asserted that there was no evidence of any local takeover on his desk.

According to him, the government passed and signed into law the Anti-Land Grabbing bill in 2020 as a preventative measure.

“I want the world to know that what we have been doing is bringing people back to their ancestral lands who have been displaced after fleeing their homes as a result of attacks. For instance, the contractor has been given the go-ahead to begin work on the site for the construction of a Police Mobile Barracks in Kakuruk, Gashish District, Barkin Local Government. This would give the residents of the area the security they need to return to their lands.

“Another village, Jong Community in the Ropp District of Barkin Ladi returned to their abode last two months ago. Similarly, the Shonong Community in Bachit District of Riyom Local Government has also been returned to their homes”.  

Governor Lalong said anyone who has such a complaint should write to the Government or go to court to protest such an infraction if it happens to promise that he will not spare anyone who tries to lay claim on any inch of Plateau State that does not belong to him.

Lalong has come under fire in the past by Plateau youths for how he has handled insecurity in the state

Supposed herdsmen ambush military, kill three people in Benue village attack

Three people were killed in an attack by Fulani herdsmen on the Ikobi community in the Apa local government area of Benue State on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

Operation Whirl Stroke (OPW) personnel were sent to the area after the attack to stop further assaults. The military, according to neighborhood members, gallantly resisted the invaders.

The killer herders ambushed the OPWS troops in Mbappa, Gwer West local government of the state, but the troops were able to defeat the attackers despite the fact that three of the soldiers were hurt.

In separate attacks just last week, armed Fulani militants killed Superintendent of Police (SP), Mamud Abubakar, the Divisional Police Officer of the Gwer West local government area, along with two other policemen, two children, and three women.

The area has been under siege by killer herders for the past few days, and some analysts attribute the attacks to remarks made by the deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and 51 other people, who accused the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, of using livestock guards and the laws against open grazing and ranches establishment to drive Fulanis out of the state.

The President of the Tiv Youth Organization, Timothy Hembaor, discussed the tragic incident with journalists in Makurdi. He described the attack on the military personnel in Gwer West as senseless and barbaric and questioned why the herders would ambush security personnel whose job it is to maintain peace.

Hembaor urged the appropriate security authorities to quickly start an inquiry into Sanusi and the other Fulani elders whose recent comments, in his opinion, have encouraged the herders in Benue State to commit more atrocities.

“It is not by chance that armed Fulani’s are currently operating in Benue State. They must have been briefed by the senior citizens who just petitioned President Buhari to remove Governor Ortom. Performing an investigation will undoubtedly reveal the facts. In Benue, we are aware of who is attacking us.

Shande stated that “Sanusi and the others must be held accountable for the recent uptick in attacks against our people.

Three days ago, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), a socio-cultural organization, raised the alarm that the deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, and 51 other people should be held responsible if anything untoward happened to the governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, regarding the alleged killing of pastoralists in Nasarawa State.

Additionally, the group urged the Federal Government to take action to stop herdsmen attacks on defenseless farmers in Benue State and other Middle Belt regions.

Killer herders have attacked security personnel in Benue State on numerous occasions over the past few years, including the ambush on the military in Gwer West.

Supposed kidnappers murder the women and children of the traditional monarch of Taraba

The traditional leader is renowned for encouraging locals to refuse paying ransom to criminals who kidnapped their loved ones

The wives and five children of Sani Muhammed, the district chief of Mutum Biu, were killed by gunmen who are believed to be bandits.

Mutum Biu is the administrative center of Taraba State’s Gasol Local Government area.

Ibrahim Ya’u, a senior Gasol Emirate official, informed reporters of the event on Saturday in Jalingo, the state’s capital.

On Saturday night, the killings were also confirmed by the state’s police

“Reliable sources have reported that seven of the Emir of M/eight biyu’s family members were murdered by their attackers. Usman Abdullahi, the state police spokesperson, stated that one individual had fled from the forest.

One of those taken hostage together with the district head’s family, according to Mr. Ya’u, was able to escape.

After the gunmen raided the homes of the monarch, a retired judge, and a second-class chief, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the district head’s family was abducted in Jalingo.

According to Mr. Ya’u, the bodies of the traditional ruler’s family members were placed in the district head’s residence in Mutumbiyu on Friday in preparation for Islamic burial on Saturday.

After the gunmen raided the homes of the monarch, a retired judge, and a second-class chief, the district head’s family was abducted in Jalingo.

According to Mr. Ya’u, the bodies of the traditional ruler’s family members were placed in the district head’s residence in Mutumbiyu on Friday in preparation for Islamic burial on Saturday.

Residents of the town had said that the attackers targeted the monarch because he had aided local security forces and the Taraba Marshall, a state-sponsored vigilante group that has been battling local criminals, in their efforts.

Suspected herdsmen attack Plateau community, leaving three people dead

Suspected herdsmen attacked the Maiyanga community in the Bokkos LGA of Plateau State on Monday where three deaths were verified.
It was learned that two additional people were shot during the attack that took place on Sunday night.

Bulus Sule, a resident of Maiyanga community, confirmed the incident to The PUNCH in Jos on Monday and stated that the injured were transported to the hospital to receive treatment.

Sule stated, “The assailants came and attacked the residents of the Maiyanga neighborhood last night (Sunday). Three people were killed by gunfire, while two others were wounded. Just too much shooting took place. The community is suffering right now.

Ilya, a different community member, decried the murders of the locals.

The security personnel, he claimed, were informed of the attack and arrived in the neighborhood a few hours after the shooters had left.

He urged the administration to step up security in the area to prevent further assaults on the populace.

When reached regarding the attack at the time of making up this report, Alabo Alfred, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, could not be reached for comments.

FACT CHECK: How accurate are the claims El-Rufai made during his Channels TV interview?

The governor of Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai, recently spoke with Channels TV and made a number of assertions about his state and Nigeria.

Here is what Middle Belt Times discovered after investigating some of the claims.

CLAIM 1: “The local government of Kubau is bigger than the state of Anambra.”

FALSE: Kaduna’s Kubau local government covers 2,363 km2, whilst Anambra covers 4,865 km2 according to the city population website.

CLAIM 2: “Legislative members are permitted to operate their own businesses.”

FALSE: Except for farming, which is primarily done to promote agriculture, full-time public servants are not authorized by law to own or operate private companies, trades, or professions..

CLAIM 3: “The size of Borno State is four times that of the five South-Eastern States.”

FALSE: Borno is not four times as large as the five south-eastern states combined in terms of land mass as el-Rufai claimed, but rather only 2.5 times as large.

Borno is the second-largest state in Nigeria after Niger based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), with a size of 72,609 square kilometers. While all five south eastern states have a combined surface area of 28,987sqkm