Bandits kidnap youth corpers on way to NYSC camps

The Police Command in Zamfara on Friday confirmed that bandits had abducted two prospective corps members deployed from Benue to Kebbi and Sokoto states.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mohammed Shehu, disclosed this in a statement in Gusau, Zamfara.

Shehu said the Zamfara Police Command had received report of their abduction from the State Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Zamfara State, Namalam Taura, in Gusau.

According to the PPRO, the report indicated that two prospective corps members deployed from Benue to Kebbi and Sokoto states were among the victims abducted along Tsafe  – Gusau road on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021 at about 22.30 hours.

Shehu said the command received the report on Friday, October 22, 2021 when the Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkanah, visited the Orientation Camp at Tsafe, Tsafe Local Government Area.

He said that Elkanah had visited the NYSC orientation camp to assess the existing security emplacement to ensure safety and security of the prospective corps members arriving at the camp for the two weeks orientation exercise.

“It could be recalled that on Oct. 19, 2021, at about 2230 hours, a vehicle with registration number GBK 339 ZY was blocked by armed bandits along Tsafe-Gusau road while travelling from Benue to Sokoto State.

“The vehicle was attacked while passing through Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA.

“And that resulted to the abduction of some passengers whose identities and number remained unknown,” Shehu said.

He said that the Command had commenced investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the actual number of persons abducted.

He said the command had deployed a team of security forces on search and rescue operation to rescue the victims.

Shehu said that CP Elkanah assured the NYSC coordinator and the corps members of police commitment to safeguard their lives.

The commissioner, however, enjoined them to be security conscious and restrict their movement while in the camp.

Meanwhile, effort to get details from the NYSC was not successful due to suspension of mobile network in Tsafe local government area.

(NAN)

FG Exposes Sunday Igboho’s Link With Boko Haram Sponsors

The Federal Government has exposed the “link between Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, and convicted terror sponsors.

At a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), spoke on the financial transaction involving Igboho and suspects in the Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation.

Malami said the findings were made by a committee set up by the Federal Government.

“Investigation reveals that Adesun International Concept Ltd (belonging to Igboho) transferred the sum of twelve million seven hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N12, 750,000) to Abbal Bako & Sons.

“It might be recalled that Abbal Bako & Sons and its promoter Abdullahi Umar Usman are suspects in the on-going Joint Terrorist Financing Investigation. Abdullahi Umar Usman is by way of financial transaction connected to SURAJO ABUBAKAR MUHAMMAD (who was sentenced to life imprisonment in UAE on charges of financing terrorism [Boko Haram]).

“This report shows the nexus between separatists’ agitation, terrorism financing and disruptions of peace in the country.

[Dailytrust]

NRC Announces Resumption Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Services

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS).

This is coming 24 hours after an attack on a section of the 186-kilometer railway track led the corporation to suspend its services.

In a statement on Friday night, NRC announced the resumption of operations.

Daily Trust learnt that this was sequel to the fixing of the damaged portions of the railways.

“The Board and Management of the Nigerian railway corporation (NRC) hereby inform the general public, particularly our valued passengers that Abuja – Kaduna Train Services (AKTS) resume tomorrow, Saturday, 23rd October, 2021 as follows,” the statement read.

“From, IDU, Abuja (AK3) at 0950am. From RIGASA, Kaduna (KA4) at 1035am. Subsequent trains services continue. NRC, once again sincerely apologises for the inconvenience.”

[Dailytrust]

Teenage ‘Bandit’ Who ‘Murdered Two Persons’ Arrested In Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a teenager over his alleged involvement in banditry.

The boy aged 14 was paraded at the command headquarters.

According to Isah Gambo, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, the minor confessed to killing two persons during one of his operations.

Gambo said the boy confessed taking part in the operation at Mallamawa in Jibia Local Government Area of the state where the persons were killed.

“The boy has confessed to us that he has participated in several attacks on villages within and outside the state where he said he could remember killing two people in Mallamawa.”

“The boy has confessed to us that he has participated in several attacks on villages within and outside the state where he said he could remember killing two people in Mallamawa.”

“He also participated in attacks on Dankulumbo and Kukar Babangida, all in Jibia local government area. He has also rustled an unspecified number of animals during several attacks,” Gambo said.

He added that the boy said he was trained as a bandit, kidnapper and cattle rustler.

The boy reportedly said he regretted his actions and wanted to be reformed.

Katsina is one of the North West States where there is a high level of insecurity.

[DailyTrust]

Buhari should sign HND/BSc dichotomy bill: Nigerian Polytechnics

he Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) dichotomy bill, recently passed by the National Assembly.

Adebanjo Ogunsipe, SSANIP National President, said this in a communique issued at the end of the quarterly meeting of the union’s General Executive Council, on Thursday, in Abuja.

Mr Ogunsipe said expediting action on the bill would be in the interest of the growth and development of polytechnic education.

“Council wishes to commend the National Assembly for painstakingly seeing the HND/BSc Dichotomy Bill, to a logical conclusion, while it is currently before the president of the country, awaiting his assent,” he said.

He described the non-payment of salaries of some state polytechnic workers as “insensitive,” adding that they were unhappy with the persistent refusal of many state governments to implement the new minimum wage.

Mr Ogunsipe identified some of the polytechnics owed salaries as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo (11 months’ unpaid salaries), the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun (30 months’ unpaid half salaries), College of Technology, Esa-Oke in Osun (30 months unpaid half salaries) and Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, (28 months’ unpaid salaries).

The unionist added that ”council-in-session, for the umpteenth time, wished to express her displeasure at the unrepentant and seeming deliberate poor funding of Polytechnic education by some state governments in the country.”

(NAN)

Gunmen Set Imo Police Station Ablaze, Free Suspects

Gunmen on Thursday night set ablaze the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State, situated at Umuelemai.

According to Punch, the attackers invaded the station and also set some suspects free during a heavy rainfall.The gunmen struck around 7pm.

Fleeing gunmen had on March 19, set the same Divisional Police Headquarters on fire.

Apart from freeing suspects in detention, the attackers kidnapped one of the female cops on duty on that day.
On arrival on Thursday, the hoodlums opened fire on the government facility before setting it on fire.

The cops on duty were said to have fled, making the attackers have a field day.

An indigene of the area told Punch that the hoodlums shot repeatedly at the police station.

He said “The gunshots were terrifying. We were terribly tense owing to the gunshots. They supervised the burning of the place before living.”

The police spokesperson in the state, Mike Abattam, had yet to confirm the attack but a senior official who pleaded anonymity confirmed the incident and disclosed that the authorities had commenced an investigation in the latest onslaught.

(Saharareporters)

Nigeria Announces Killing Of ISWAP Leader Who Succeeded Al-Barnawi

The Nigerian government has announced the killing of a leader of the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP), Malam Bako.

Bako succeeded Abu Musab Al-Barnawi, the late leader and son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf.

The announcement comes some days after the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor confirmed that the death of ISWAP, Abu Musab Al-Barnawi.

Al-Barnawi was the son of Boko Haram founder, Mohammed Yusuf, who was also killed by security forces in 2009 when he launched a war against the Nigerian state.

He was previously the spokesperson for the Islamists before he later became ISWAP leader following the death of Abubakar Shekau.
 
Addressing journalists at the State House on Thursday, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno said Bako was killed by Nigerian troops alongside an ISWAP commander.

“In one month, we have been able to take out the leadership of ISWAP, that is Abu Musab Al-Barnawi.
 
“Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, Malam Bako, one of ISWAP Shura Council, was also taken out.”
 
According to Monguno, the military operations against the terrorists is putting pressure on them.

Sahara Reporters earlier reported in September that Abu Musab Al-Barnawi was killed in Borno State.
Al-Barnawi sustained vicious attacks especially on military facilities and troops in the Lake Chad region while at the same time strategising on how to subdue Shekau.
 
He controlled large swathes of territory in Northern Borno, imposed taxes on the local population and earned income from fishing aside from the financial and material support he got from ISIS.
 
Al-Barnawi’s fighters had also destroyed many military camps in Dikwa, Monguno, Abadam and Marte in Borno; and other military facilities around Geidam in Yobe State.
 
He equally established many cells on the Lake Chad islands and surrounding villages from where his fighters launched attacks on Nigeria, Niger and Chad.
 
His death in August, after that of Shekau in May 2021, was seen as a turning point in the war against terror.

(Saharareporters)

After Claims Of Bandits’ Attack, NRC Suspends Train Operations From Abuja To Kaduna

The Nigerians Railway Corporation has withdrawn train services from Abuja to Kaduna State. This is coming on the background that trains were reportedly attacked by terrorists on Wednesday. But the corporation said the suspension was to enable it conduct maintenance. “We are withdrawing the DMU on Abuja Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) from Tuesday 19th-Thursday 21st October, 2021 for scheduled maintenance. The DMU will return back to operations on Friday 22/10/21. Tuesday 19th & Wednesday 20th will be four trips each (I:e AK1, KA2, AK9 & KA10).Thursday 21/10/21 will be 8trips ( AK1, KA2, AK3, KA4, AK7, KA6, AK9 & KA10) respectively, While full train service will return on Friday. Any inconvenience to our esteemed passengers is regretted,” NRC announced on its website.

Senator Shehu Sani had alleged terrorists “attacked the Kaduna Abuja railway with an explosive and opened fire on the train”.

But the Nigerian Police denied the claim made by the senator who represented the Kaduna Central senatorial district in the 8th Senate.

Speaking on the development, the State Police Spokesperson, Mohammed Jalige said, “That is not true, the command is not aware of anything. The train was faulty yesterday on its way coming from Abuja to Kaduna which caused a delay in people’s arrival time.

“They were no explosives denoted; there was no any attack.”

(The Whistler)

[BREAKING] Bandit attacks: Protesting Zamfara women block Gusau-Kaduna road

Hundreds of women in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have blocked Gusau-Kaduna road to protest against persistent attacks by bandits, despite security measures said to be taken by the state government.

Gusau-Kaduna road links the state to several other states both in the North and the South.

The women carried their children and belongings sat on the road, refusing to allow the motorists to pass through the road.

This resulted in traffic and hundreds of motorists were stranded.

One of the women, who gave her name as Sadiya, told The PUNCH that they decided to come out to protest because the bandits were always attacking and raping them and there was no action taken by the security agents to protect them.

Sadiya said, “We blocked the road in order to draw the attention of both the government and the security agents to come to our rescue.”

Another woman, Talatu Sani, said, she left her village of Cediya because the bandits used to go to the village to rape women and steal their food and animals.

“I have to join the protest because the authorities are not doing anything to protect us from this hopeless situation.”

Efforts were made to talk to the spokesperson of the state police command SP Mohammed Shehu without success, as he didn’t pick up phone calls.

(Punch)

UPDATE: Bandits bomb Abuja-Kaduna train

Armed bandits on Wednesday reportedly bombed a train travelling between Abuja and Kaduna, inflicting technical damages on the country’s major rail infrastructure.

Former Senator Shehu Sani said a train he rode between Kaduna and Abuja on Thursday morning nearly derailed because of an explosive that damaged a section of the tracks.

Mr Sani, in a telephone exchange with Peoples Gazette over the incident, said the bandits were targeting the trains in order to dispose of passengers of their cash and other valuable possessions. He also said the attackers opened fire on the train driver.

A spokesman for the Nigerian Railway in Abuja did not immediately return a request seeking comments on Thursday morning.

Bandits have repeatedly targeted the railway between the nation’s capital and the key northern city, which has become the preferred route for passengers seeking to avoid the perilous three-hour journey by road.

The deadly gangs have raided military bases and shot down at least one reconnaissance jet of the Nigerian Air Force. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the military paid a ransom to the bandits to prevent President Muhammadu Buhari’s plane from being shot down.

The president has repeatedly vowed to be ruthless against the attackers largely responsible for widespread abduction and plunder of communities across Nigeria’s northwestern region.

But security agencies are warning that the gangs are becoming more armed with sophisticated combat equipment that would make it more difficult to defeat them.

(Gazette)