Orphanages operating in Kaduna state have been asked to pay an exorbitant sum of N130,000 for ‘registration’ or have their facilities shutdown by the state government.
An orphanage operator in Kaduna who craved anonymity to avoid persecution told Middle Belt Times that the state government even gave them deadline which they must all pay the money.
“They gave us one week to pay the money, they said it is for registration and certificate.
“We are only offering charity services to the society and humanity, where do they expect us to raise such a huge sum from? We are not revenue generating organisations.”He said.
The orphanages claimed they have been duly registered with the corporate affairs commission, the body saddled with the responsibility of registering business and NGOs in the country.
Another orphanage operator who also craved anonymity, confirmed the development to MBT. He said the development has forced many of them to go and borrow money to pay to avoid being shutdown by the government.
When asked whether any letter or circular was issued to them in that regard, they said no letter was given instead they were called to a meeting organized by the Kaduna state Ministry of Human services and social development.
When contacted via WhatsApp message to comment on the development, the Kaduna state Commissioner for Human services and social development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba responded thus;
“Good morning, if you want me to grant interview pls meet me in the office. Thank you.” She said
Four persons have been reported dead and two others missing when a passenger bus plunged into River Niger in Koton Karfe area of Kogi.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja.
It stated that a Toyota Hiace bus with 15 passengers on board plunged into the river late Tuesday night.
Mr Solomon Agure, the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, who confirmed this said the bus with registration number Plateau – JJN 73 XA, took off from Ijora Seven Up under bridge in Lagos and was heading to Kano.
According to Agure, four people including a woman died in the accident while seven others were critically injured.
He said that the corps engaged the services of eight divers to rescue victims and recovered four dead bodies.
Agure explained that two female passengers were still missing, saying that all efforts to trace their bodies proved abortive.
He, however, explained that two passengers escaped unhurt.
The sector commander said that the injured victims and the dead were taken to the General Hospital, Koton Karfe, and the bus recovered and taken to FRSC office also in Koton Karfe.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Sylvester Alabi
A suspect, Sanusi Lauwali, arrested by the Police in Bauchi State for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery, has disclosed that he killed five people during religious crises in Jos, Plateau State.
The suspect spoke while being paraded by the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Sylvester Alabi, at the state command headquarters.
He said that anytime there was a religious crisis in Plateau State, his boss would give them guns to kill Christians.
Although the 27-year old said he could not state exactly the number of persons he had killed, he added that they could not be less than five persons.
He said, “I cannot remember how many people I have killed, they are not up to 10, but I think they are at least five people.
“I killed these people during religious crises in Plateau State. These are the people I shot and killed.”
Asked where he gets the gun he uses to kill, he said: “It is our boss that gives us the guns.”
He added,”I live in Tunga village outside Jos, but anytime there is a crisis, he will send us to the place to go and kill Christians.
“I ran away and went back to my hometown in Ningi (Local Government Area), for about one year now.
“It was when I went back that they informed security agents who arrested me; although I know I am guilty of what they are accusing me of.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Bauchi, Bauchi State, Sylvester Alabi, told journalists that Lauwali alias ‘no delay’ of Gudale village Ningi LGA Bauchi state, was a suspected serial kidnapper and armed robber.
He said that the suspect was arrested on 12th September, 2021 around 5pm, through intelligence.
Alabi said, “His gang members include one Ali, one Bammi and welcome (real name not yet known).
“He confirmed to have benefited the sum of N250,000 as his share from the proceeds of crime they collected from their kidnapped victim at Dabar Tsintsiya village.”
The police commissioner said that investigation was being expanded to nail down the fleeing accomplices.
Gunmen who recently broke into the correctional centre in Kabba in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, are Boko Haram terrorists, SaharaReporters learnt.
A source also told SaharaReporters on Monday that after their arrival, the terrorists gave an auto assault rifle to the Chief Imam for the inmates, said to be a Boko Haram commander.
According to the source, the Boko Haram commander, an inmate of the prison, had taken up the role of Chief Imam at the correctional centre, leading other Muslims to prayer.
“It was Boko Haram terrorists that broke into Kabba prison,” the source said.
“The Chief Imam for the inmates is apparently a Boko Haram commander, and when the gunmen arrived, they handed him an auto assault rifle.”
Just a week ago, SaharaReporters reported how some prisoners gunmen attacked the correctional centre in Kabba, freeing inmates.
The prisoners who were in their hundreds were said to have escaped after the gunmen attacked the prison located along Kabba-Lokoja highway late on Sunday, September 12.
Though security officers comprising 15 soldiers, 10 policemen, and 10 armed guards of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) were at the facility at the time of the attack, the gunmen were able to break into it.
They killed a soldier and a policeman during the attack, Sola Fasure, media adviser to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had said in a statement.
The assailants thereafter set the prisoners free.
The early morning downpour on Monday aided their escape as the building housing the inmates was reportedly submerged by flood.
According to the statement, the Kabba custodial facility had 294 inmates as of the time of the attack, and only 28 inmates did not escape.
It said many of the 266 inmates initially unaccounted for were able to escape after the gunmen used explosives to destroy three sides of the perimeter fence.
Later, Sesan Nihi, the Kogi correctional service spokesman said no fewer than 114 inmates from the Kabba Correctional Centre had voluntarily returned or been rearrested.
Nihi was quoted as saying, “We have about 114 inmates back now. Some of the inmates returned themselves but I cannot give a definite figure for that. In fact, two just returned not too long ago. Some of the inmates were brought back by their parents.
“We have a search party with other security agencies to capture the remaining inmates.”
A group under the auspices of Association of Christian Journalists and Allied Media Professionals has gone into a partnership with the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and Bread for the world to advance the Rights and Welfare of IDPs in Nigeria.
The group announced the partnership via a press release signed by its President, Mr Lekan Otufodunrin and made available to Middle Belt Times.The Press release reads in full;
JFC/WACC Partner to Advance Rights and Welfare of IDPs in Nigeria
With the support of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and the Bread for the World (German Protestant Agency for Diaconia Development) we announce the launch of a new project aimed at bringing to limelight for institutional attention, the rights and welfare issues faced by Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in Nigeria.
The project entitled, ‘Advancing the rights and welfare of IDPs through the media’ will help to consolidate our work in alleviating the pitiable living conditions of IDPs will run from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.
It will provide information on the trend in reportage of IDPs and training for journalists and writers on enhanced reporting of IDP issues.
A small team of journalists across the country will be commissioned to write special investigative reports on IDPs issues and engender stakeholders’ engagement; and conduct series of media-driven advocacy to advance the welfare of IDPs.
Overall, the one-year project is expected to drive positive reportage of IDPs in the media and attract policy change to improve the welfare and rights of IDPs.
The new project will build up two earlier projects; Monitoring Media Reportage and Portrayal of IDPs in Africa and Managing Internal Displacements in Nigeria supported by WACC and Otto Per Mille ( Weldesian Church), Italy.
As a media based organization, we are among others, committed to advocating for the communication rights of all citizens, including many who are voiceless.
Across the country, the population of IDPs is growing and there is need for more media focus on their plight.
Youths Protest incessant Killings and kidnapping by blocking highway.
The protesting youths
By Steven Kefas
One person has been reported killed by gunmen suspected to be Fulani terrorists militias in Mararaban Rido community in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state, Northwest Nigeria.
The terrorists were reported to have invaded Ungwan Gajere street in the community on Monday Night and began a search for victims to be Kidnapped. One man was reportedly killed while his wife and two others were kidnapped by the terrorists.
Mararaban Rido has been in the news for frequent Killings and kidnappings. It would be recalled that in July over at least 100 students of the Bethel Baptist High School located in the community were abducted after terrorists broke into their school, a boarding facility owned by the Nigerian Baptist church.
Youths Protest incessant killings and kidnappings
Youths in Mararaban Rido on Tuesday blocked the high way linking Kaduna the state capital to Southern Kaduna. The youths in their number said the government seems to have abandoned them to their fates.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime will not name and shame Boko Haram financiers and other sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, says his media aide Femi Adesina.
EFCC Chair Abdulrasheed Bawa, President Muhammadu Buhari and former EFCC Chair Ibrahim Magu
President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime will not name and shame Boko Haram financiers and other sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria, says his media aide Femi Adesina.
“Naming and shaming will not be the motive. Bringing malefactors to justice will be it,” Mr Adesina told Channels TV on Monday. “Nigeria is not interested in naming and shaming anybody. Rather, it wants to bring them to justice.”
In May, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, announced that high-profile Nigerians were financing terrorism in the country.
“In essence, it is indeed true that the government is prosecuting, and it’s indeed initiating processes of prosecuting those high-profile individuals that are found to be financing terrorism. It is indeed true,” Mr Malami had said.
Contrary to many Nigerians’ expectations, Mr Buhari’s regime failed to reveal the identities of the terrorism financiers.
But Mr Adesina stated that “rest assured that these people will be dragged before justice, and justice will have its way.”
He added that investigations were ongoing at various security agencies before arraigning the suspects.
“Investigations are going on at different levels; it will be at the level of the EFCC, it will be at the level of the NIA,” the presidential spokesman stated. “All the security agencies will be working on it so that when those people eventually appear in court, there will be a prima facie case against them.”
Last week, EFCC chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said he could not reveal the identities of Boko Haram sponsors.
Asked to name the financiers during an interview with Channels TV, Mr Bawa said, “If you are my adviser will you advise me to come on national television to tell the whole world regarding matters of sensitive national security issue? Certainly, not.”
Kunle Olawunmi, a former navy commodore, in August, alleged that the Buhari regime was familiar with sponsors of terrorism but yet to bring them to book.
“The government has developed cold feet in fighting the insurgency because some of those backing Boko Haram are now top-ranking government officials,” the military intelligence expert had said. “Why can’t this government, if not that they are partisan, bring those people out for trial?”
More than 300,000 children lost their lives in the last 12 years because of the insurgency ravaging the North East region, the latest statistics released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed.
This is just as the Nigerian military said the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), a rival terrorists’ organisation has started massive recruitment of jobless youths into its fold to continue wreaking havoc.
The latest statistics released by UNICEF also disclosed that over one million persons have been displaced within the period under review.It said no fewer than 5,129 out-of-school children were currently battling mental health challenges as a result of the conflict in the North.
When one of our correspondents attempted to get more information on the factors responsible for the death of 300,000 children, the UNICEF Media Contact in Maiduguri said that the deaths were a summation of direct and indirect attacks on children.
He said, “Children killed in crossfires, Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs), children used as suicide bombers, children killed by malnutrition among others.”
Salihu Bakhari, who is a retired security officer, said he was not surprised by the figures released by UNICEF.
“We are just coming to terms with the reality because the attention in the past was on the frequency of attacks and destruction. We paid little attention to the humanitarian crises including how children were affected.
“I believe more figures would be reeled out in the coming months but the most important thing is for various stakeholders to start thinking on how to address the challenges.
“There are many children that are missing; some have been stolen and others are in the hands of terrorists. They are nurturing them to become fighters.
“So, while we frown and lament the killing of children, there must be a deliberate effort to save those in captivity and make life meaningful for them,” he said.
Attacks against children must stop
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, advocated that every stakeholder must ensure attacks against children stop immediately.
He said his organisation and the European Union (EU) were working together to provide community-based psychosocial services.
He said, “The scars of conflict are real and enduring for children. Too many children in North East Nigeria are falling victim to a conflict they did not start. Attacks against children must stop immediately.
“In the meantime, we are committed to working with our partners to provide psychosocial and other support to conflict-affected children, so they can regain their childhood and restart their lives.”
Hawkins said that the EU-funded Support to Early Recovery and Resilience Project, implemented by UNICEF, was aimed at improving the mental health of 5,129 out-of-school children in Borno State.
He also said that stress and violence had been linked to poor brain development, depression and poor self-esteem and children exposed to conflict and violence were at risk of long-term mental health and psychosocial issues.
The UNICEF chief said that the conflict-affected out-of-school children in the state, which cut across six local government areas were receiving services including mental health support in safe spaces to strengthen their well-being, resilience, literacy skills and self-reliance.
The project, according to him, also supported vulnerable children across Borno with protection and health services, vocational and basic literacy skills, access to justice and security, under a holistic humanitarian intervention.
He said the intervention had so far provided 15,552 out-of-school children with vocational training; 1,610 out-of-school children with literacy and numeracy skills and 5,194 children enrolled into integrated Qur’anic schools across focus LGAs.
On his part, the EU Head of Cooperation, Cecile Tassin-Pelzer, said, “Addressing the psychosocial well-being and development of children and teachers in conflict situations is an important part of re-establishing education provision and enabling children to re-enter schools safely.”
Daily Trust reports that apart from the huge number of children who were killed during the twelve-year conflict, thousands of adults also lost their lives while many properties including schools, markets, hospitals, electricity and many other social amenities were destroyed.
Governor Babagana Zulum recently said over 100,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram, amplifying what his predecessor, Kashim Shettima said in 2017.
