More Than 50 Gunmen Invade Nasarawa Government Building, Tie Down Security Operatives

No fewer than 50 gunmen invaded the Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, making away with a safe box full of valuables, and an AK-47 rifle belonging to an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Sun reports that the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Rammatu Julde, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lafia, the state capital.

Jude said the gunmen stormed the premises in the early hours of Monday at 2am, gained access through the main gate linking the offices of the Local Government Commission and the Civil Service Commission, and operated without intervention by security agencies.

“They launched the attack in the early hours of Monday at exactly 2am. During the operation, they tied down two officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who were guarding the premises with a rope and collected one AK-47 rifle in their possession,” Julde reported.

“They also attempted to take away our 150 KVA generator, but they could not succeed; however, they took away the safe box where valuable documents of the Commission were kept. We are presently doing stock-taking to know what other items were carted away,” she added.

The Commission’s secretary clarified that no life was lost during the attack but appealed to the NSCDC to carry out a detailed investigation into the incident in order to be sure that there was no conspiracy between its officers and the unidentified gunmen.

The unidentified gunmen also invaded the State Civil Service Commission which shares a fence with the Local Government Service Commission and carted away two LED 32-inch televisions.

Reacting, Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC Jerry Victor, explained that, “The gunmen launched an attack on the premises on Monday morning and unfortunately carried out their plans without any hindrance.

“Two of our officers who were securing the premises were tied down with ropes and they collected e Ak-47 rifle from them. The officers have been detained at our Command headquarters here in Lafia and investigation is currently ongoing.”

The incident occurred three months after a group of armed men raided the State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning in Lafia, making away with cash, also without interventions by authorities.

[Sun/SR]

Nigerian Soldiers Burnt Over 80 Houses In Our Community — Imo Residents

Residents of Izombe in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State have lamented the havoc allegedly wreaked on their community by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.

The distraught indigenes told Punch that the value of properties destroyed by soldiers in their community was not less than N1billion.

According to them, soldiers who were on a reprisal attack burnt no fewer than 80 houses, many cars and economic trees.

The soldiers attached to the 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, reportedly clashed with the youths of the community.

In the process, a youth was killed, two soldiers murdered, their vehicle burnt and three rifles snatched.

In a revenge mission, the army invaded the community in many vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carriers and allegedly destroyed many properties.

The development caused the indigenes of the community, especially women and children, to flee the area.

A community leader, Chinedu Nnadi, had said the damage the army had done to the community would not be addressed in the next 30 years.

Nnadi, who is the pastor in charge of He Reigns Chapel, Owerri, said the people had become refugees in neighbouring communities.

A man, Kennedy Ike, whose house and that of his two children were razed during the operation, said his life had been “made miserable”.

The army spokesperson for the 34 artillery brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Joseph Akuga, said the military hierarchy in the state would address the press on the issue.

[Saharareporters]

How El-Rufai Created A Territory In Kaduna And Appointed Son’s Friend As Administrator

Muhammad Hafiz Bayero, a bosom friend of Bello El-Rufai, eldest son of the Governor of Kaduna State, is the administrator of Kaduna Capital Territory.

The territory is one of the three that came into existence under the administration of the incumbent governor of the state.

While announcing the appointment of Bayero, Muyiwa Adekeye, spokesman of the governor, said the law creating metropolitan authorities to manage Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria as organic cities had been passed.

He also announced the appointments of two other administrators who are on the same rank with Bayero.

They are Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, Administrator, Zaria Metropolitan Authority, and Phoebe Sukai Yayi, Administrator, Kafanchan Municipal Authority.

Sukai, a senior civil servant, served as the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education.

Bayero had earlier served as the governor’s Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Relations.

As special adviser, he was responsible for maintaining the Kaduna State government’s relations with other arms of government, investors and development partners, operating out of the federal capital, Abuja.

He was later appointed Managing Director of Kaduna Market Development Agency.
He joined El-Rufai’s government in June 2015 as Special Assistant-Job Creation. He is part of the founding team of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).

28-year-old Khalil Nur Khalil has just been appointed as the Executive Secretary of KADIPA.

Khalil, a first-class graduate from the Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus, holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

[Dailytrust]

Bandits demand N50m for 3 kidnapped students of Kaduna seminary

Gunmen, who kidnapped three students of St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy in Kagoma Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government Area of the state, are demanding N50 million ransom to free them.

Mr. J.F. Dabo, an assistant to the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) told P.M.News on Tuesday.

He said the bandits have contacted the father of one of the three captives to make the demand.

The Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige had debunked earlier reports that scores of students were captured by the gunmen on Monday evening.

“Three seminarians were kidnapped by suspected kidnappers on Monday evening,’’ he said.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, in the state has directed the deployment of more police personnel to cordon the nearby bushes with a view to rescuing the victims.

“All efforts are on high gear for their rescue,’’ Jalige said.

Dabo, who is also the National President of Catholic Youth In Politics Forum, also confirmed that three students were kidnapped.

He said five students were initially taken by the eight attackers, said to be Fulani militiamen.

But they dropped two of the captives on their way out of the school. One of them had a cut on his head and was bleeding.

Dabo said the attack happened at about 7pm after mass at the chapel.

‘They met five stragglers at the chapel, when hundreds of others had departed to their hostels or the dining hall.

“They probably targeted the mass at the chapel. But they came after it ended. The situation could have been worse”.

He also disclosed that one of the three captives is asthmatic.

St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a seminary is owned by the Catholic Church. It is also called St Albert The Great Institute of Higher Education.

[PMNews]

El-Rufai sacks chief of staff after calling Lamido Sanusi ‘former Emir of Kano’

overnor Nasir El-Rufai has replaced his chief of staff weeks after he addressed Lamido Sanusi as a “former Emir of Kano.” 

Muhammad Sani Abdullahi introduced Mr Sanusi as former emir while speaking at the Kaduna Investment Summit in September. Mr Sanusi, who was dethroned by Abdulahi Ganduje following corruption allegations in March 2019, took umbrage at the description, saying he was not a former emir.

“When I listened to the chief of staff…I will call him former chief of staff…you will understand why I call you ‘former’ later,” Mr Sanusi said when he took the microphone at the event. “Next time don’t call me ‘former Emir.’ There is nothing like that.” A video of the exchanges has drawn social media comments since Mr Sani Abdullahi was removed from office.

Mr Sani Abdullahi, who has served as Mr El-Rufai’s chief of staff since 2019, was removed on Monday when Mr El-Rufai conducted a cabinet reshuffle. He was subsequently deployed to the ministry of planning and budget where he would be commissioner.

It was not immediately clear whether or not Mr Sani Abdullahi’s removal as chief of staff was instigated by Mr Sanusi, who has remained politically influential and good friends with Mr El-Rufai. A spokesman for the governor did not immediately return a request seeking comments on Tuesday afternoon. 

[Gazette]

BREAKING: Senate adopts electronic transmission of election results

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday adopted electronic transmission of election results, a position that was contained in the Conference Committee report submitted to the chamber.

The electronic transmission of election results which is a proviso in clause 53 of the Electoral amendment act places on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the right to transmit results without subjecting their discretion to any other organ as was firstly captured that generated controversy.

Adoption wasn’t, however, without heated debate which was brought under control by the presiding Senate President.

Before the adoption in the Committee of the whole, Senator Adamu Aliero and former governor of Kebbi State in his submission urged Senators to support the amendment in order to strengthen democracy.

He said: This is a move that will deepen our democracy and a move that will make the electorate to vote according to their conscience. This will put paid to criminals having their way as people of questionable character can no longer be voted.

Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West opposed the amendment on clause 87 which deals with direct primaries of political parties. He advocated strongly for some political parties who lack the capacity to organise direct primaries. He said it should be left for party executives to conduct indirect primaries.

However, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial districts said every card-carrying member of a political party should be allowed to vote for their aspirants.

According to him, the mode of party primary which is determined by all party members would be more democratic than indirect where a few party executives vote for aspirants.

“I support this motion and like to mention specifically that in clause 87 that every card-carrying member of any political party should be able to vote and it is a way of giving power back to the people.

“This is not about any political party, every political party will enjoy this, therefore, let every party member have the opportunity to vote who they wanted.”

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North corroborated in his submission, saying those opposed to direct primaries were afraid, wondering that if a contestant was as popular as he thinks, then he or she needed not to be afraid.

“Let’s practice democracy in accordance with the global best practices. I see no reason why anybody should be afraid of direct primaries as it goes to solve problems of aspirants.

Senator Shuaibu Lau representing Taraba North Senatorial district called for caution in not tieing political parties to a form of conducting primaries. He said the mode of conducting primaries should be left for parties to decide.

He maintained: “I agree with amendment of clause 87 which has to do with political party primaries.

We must, therefore, not tie parties to one way traffic of conducting primaries and not because there are beliefs that governors are hijacking parties and not free parties to democratically elect their leaders.

When the chamber resorted to the committee of the whole, the electronic means of transmitting election results was passed, while political parties are to determine how their primaries are conducted.

[Dailypost]

Despite N20m Ransom, Zamfara Emir Abducted in Kaduna Still With Abductors

Almost a month after he was kidnapped by gunmen along Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, the Emir of Bungudu in Zamfara State, Alhaji Hassan Attahiru, remains with his abductors even after the payment of N20 million ransom.

The emir was abducted when bandits waylaid a convoy of vehicles he was travelling in from Kaduna to Abuja on September 14.

He was said to be on his way to join Zamfara government’s delegation to the UN General Assembly in the United States.

Confirming the incident at the time, the Kaduna State police command said unspecified number of commuters were abducted along with the monarch in the daylight attack which occurred around Dutse village on the highway.

Daily Trust gathered that the abduction was carried out by gunmen loyal to banditry kingpin Boderi Isiya, operating from Riyawa, Buruku and Sabon Birni forests in Kaduna State.

A source familiar with the case said the bandits’ kingpin had shifted the goalpost after agreeing to release the emir upon payment of agreed ransom.

“He is now insisting that ransom must be N100 million, instead of the initial amount agreed,” the source said, explaining that family members and negotiators have been warned to be wary of the kingpin as he had previously vowed not to release the monarch even with ransom paid.

The emir, officially recognised as Sarkin Fulanin Bungudu, is known for tough stance against bandits in his domain and support for local vigilantes.

Boderi is responsible for a number of atrocious attacks in Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Zaria local governments, including the abduction of students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in March.

[Dailytrust]

Bandits in Kaduna now demand cooked food as ransom amid biting hunger

Bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State are now demanding cooked food as ransom for kidnapped victims.

The bandits were said to have retrieved from attacking communities since the state Government banned weekly markets as part of measures to tackle insecurity in the state.

A youth leader in one of the villages of Birnin Gwari, Babangida ‎ Yaro, told Daily Trust that since the ban, bandits operating along Damari, Kutemashi and Kuyello villages only asked for cooked food each time they abduct people.

According to him, the ban on sale of fuel in filling stations located in rural communities had also helped to restrict their movement.

“There is relative peace around Damari, kuyello, Kutemashi because the bandits have stopped attacking our communities. They usually stay in the forest and seiz food items mostly cooked ones from vendors,” he said.

He added that when they abducted two or three persons in farms, one is allowed to go and get them food from their relatives as ransom since there is no communication network to make contact.

The youth leader added that Dogon Dawa area is still not completely safe because villagers are still scared of accessing their farmlands.
Babangida also lamented that the ban on use of private Motorcycles in the villages had increased hardship on the bandits as well as residents.

[DailyTrust]

Burkina Faso starts trial of alleged killers of left-wing idol Thomas Sankara

A military court in Ouagadougou on Monday began the long-awaited trial of 14 men, including the former president, accused in the assassination of Burkina Faso’s left-wing leader Thomas Sankara 34 years ago.

The slaying of Sankara, a pan-Africanist icon, has for years cast a shadow over the poor Sahel state, fuelling its reputation for turbulence and bloodshed.

Sankara and 12 others were riddled with bullets by a hit squad on October 15, 1987 during a putsch that brought his friend and comrade-in-arms Blaise Compaore to power.

Compaore, the chief accused, announced through his lawyers last week that he would boycott the trial.

He ruled the country for 27 years before being deposed by a popular uprising in 2014 and fleeing to neighbouring Ivory Coast, which granted him citizenship.

He and his former right-hand man, General Gilbert Diendere, who once headed the elite Presidential Security Regiment, face charges of complicity in murder, harming state security and complicity in the concealment of corpses.

Diendere, 61, is already serving a 20-year sentence for masterminding a plot in 2015 against the transitional government that followed Compaore’s ouster.

He appeared in court dressed in military uniform and looked relaxed.

Another prominent figure among the accused is Hyacinthe Kafando, a former chief warrant officer in Compaore’s presidential guard, who is accused of leading the gunmen. He is on the run.

Compaore has always rejected suspicions that he orchestrated the killing.

His lawyers last week announced he would not be attending a “political trial” that they said was flawed by irregularities, and insisted he enjoyed immunity as a former head of state.

A young army captain and Marxist-Leninist, Sankara came to power in a coup in 1983 aged just 33.

He tossed out the country’s name of Upper Volta, a legacy of the French colonial era, and renamed it Burkina Faso, which means “the land of honest men”.

He pushed ahead with a socialist agenda of nationalisations and banned female genital mutilation, polygamy and forced marriages.

Like Ghana’s former leader Jerry Rawlings, he became an idol in left-wing circles in Africa, lauded for his radical policies and defiance of the big powers.

Burkina Faso has long been burdened by silence over the assassination and many are angry that the killers have gone unpunished.

During Compaore’s long rule, the question of Sankara’s bloody death was taboo.

After his ouster, the interim government in 2015 launched an investigation into the episode, and the following year issued an international arrest warrant for him.

Sankara’s widow Mariam, who lives in southern France, came to Ouagadougou for the opening of the trial.

“This is a day of truth for me, my family and all Burkinabe,” she said, referring to the name of Burkina citizens.

The family’s lawyer, Stanislas Benewende Sankara — who shares the same name but is not a relative — said Compaore’ absence was a “slap in the face” to Burkina Faso’s justice system.

The trial “may not be the end of the tunnel, but we are reaching a very important phase, judicially speaking,” he said.

One of the world’s most impoverished countries, Burkina Faso has also been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2015 that has claimed more than 1,400 lives and forced 1.3 million people from their homes.

[Guardian]

BREAKING: Five police officers, 32 bandits die in gun battle

Nigerian joint security forces have killed 32 armed bandits fleeing from Zamfara in Niger State, PRNigeria learnt on Sunday.

This was after the bandits attacked a security post, and shot dead five policemen who attempted to confront them.

The incident occurred at Bangu Gari in the Rafi Local Government Area of the State.

A security source told PRNigeria that the armed bandits, who fled Zamfara State due to the ongoing military operation, had earlier wreaked havoc on the community.

“The bandits came in their large number with sophisticated weapons including rocket launchers after fleeing their camps at Danjibga and Munhaye in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

“They stormed the police station at Bangu Gari in Rafi LGA and killed five policemen during the exchange of gunfire.

“Immediately a signal was received and a detachment of joint security forces was despatched. The troops on reinforcement successfully ambushed the marauding bandits while attempting to escape through Tegina axis.

“At least 32 of the bandits were killed including their leaders, Karki Buzu and Yalo Nagoshi while another kingpin, Ali Kawaji sustained serious gun wounds,” the source said.

[PRNigeria]