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.
Says attack on Catholic Seminary is a continuation of ongoing genocide
Leading civil Rights Advocacy Platform-:HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has tasked the President as the father of the nation to kindly halt the massive attacks and killings of Christians in Southern Kaduna by suspected armed Fulani terrorists just as the group said the attack in kagoma, Jema’a local government area council of Kaduna state targeting a Roman Catholic Senior Seminary fits into a pattern of genocides that have gone on for over five years since president Buhari came on board.
HURIWA learnt that gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits had attacked St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a seminary belonging to the Catholic Church. The seminary is situated at Fayit community, Kagoma Chiefdom in the Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The attack, according to sources, led to the abduction of an unspecified number of students. HURIWA gathered from the media that the suspected kidnappers in their large number stormed the school premises on Monday evening with sophisticated weapons, surrounded the school, and overpowered the students who had just finished their evening prayers. According to one of the students, who narrowly escaped the bandits, they had just finished evening prayers in the church when the gunmen attacked with sporadic shooting and whisked the victims away. He added, “The other students who left early and were already having their dinner at the dining hall on hearing the gunshots escaped in disarray to different directions and were able to save themselves from being kidnappers.” He explained that some ran to the nearby river for their dear lives, stressing that the incident put the entire school into confusion as those that were lucky ran away from the gunmen. The student who sought anonymity said, “In all, it is estimated that an unverifiable number of students were kidnapped.” Another source who spoke on the incessant kidnapping in the state appealed to the government to do the needful by protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.
HURIWA condemns the attack and the persistent and systematic decimation of Southern Kaduna Indigenous Christian population and described these targeted violence and killings as well crafted, well coordinated and well executed genocides which President Buhari must stop and bring the perpetrators to face justice.
HURIWA said there are recorded evidence of many Captured and Occupied Southern Kaduna Territories just as HURIWA said that below are indigenous rural Christian communities of Southern Kaduna that have been sacked by rampaging armed Fulani militia and displaced to various communities and IDPs camps. These villages are now under the full occupation of Fulani some for over two years listed bellow according to LGAs and Wards. 1 KACHIA LGA ( from 2019) (i) Doka ward Chikwale, Idum, Muruchi, Kwasau Legede, Kafeyawa, Amale, Chikwale, Unguwan Pa, Gidan Sambo, Gidan Para, Unguwan Muruchi, Unguwan Dutse, Baware kasa, Gidan Duna, Sabon Gida Duna, Opase, Gidan Sunday, Gidan Yarima, Gidan Auta, Bakin Garma, Gidan Ladan, Maigari, Gidan Wakili, Pago, Oshowodo, Gidan Peter. (ii) Ankuwa Ward Ungwan pah (iii) Bishini Ward Koron, Kurmin iya, Ungwan Gwari, Kurmin Iya (iv) Kateri Ward Rishi Numbers of communities displaced in Kachia LGA = 33 Communities from 4 Wards 2 Kajuru LGA (from 2019)
(NOTE: On the 1st June, 2021, a few men from Idazo, Ungwan Shaba and Magunguna villages took risk and went back to clear their farms, after it was established that the occupying armed herdsmen have left. They are still there at the time of compiling this report. Past attempts were met with death)
(ii) Tantatu Ward Ungwan Makware
(iii) Idon Ward
Edanu, Ungwan Mudi, Ungwan Rana, Ifele, Ungwan Gora
Number of Displaced Communities from Kajuru LGA = 24 from 3 wards 3 CHIKUN LGA (from 2019) (i) Kunai Ward
Number of Displaced and Occupied rural communities = 8
(NOTE: some of the displaced persons here have started returning from last year. But majority do not still feel that there is an assured safety and security of the lives after past attempts had ended in regrettable tragedy. The herdsmen are notorious for breaking violating agreements reached) 5 Kauru LGA (2020)
(i)Badurun ward
Kikurunkuwa
(ii) Kamuru Ward
Kiziti, Kikpene, Kirim,
Number of Displaced villages = 5
As at June 5th, 2021, at least 115 communities scattered in 5 LGAs of Southern Kaduna have been displaced and taken over by armed Fulani militia unchallenged by the state. There are at least 100,000 IDPs leaving in several camps in Southern Kaduna and with relations in other parts of the state. Those close to Plateau and Niger State have fled there.
Source: Official records of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). Date: 5th June, 2021 Sign: Luka Binniyat. SOKAPU Spokesman and obtained by HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA.
The Rights group said the attacks and genocides in Southern Kaduna contravene several sections of the Nigerian constitution such as Section 14 stated thus: 14(1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice. (2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and Section 33 stated thus: 33(1) Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.
Besides, HURIWA appealed on President Muhammadu Buhari to halt these premeditated attacks because section 218 (1) of the constitution says: “The powers of the President as the Commissioner-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation shall include power to determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation. (2) The powers conferred on the President by subsection (1) of this section shall include power to appoint the Chief of Defence staff, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff and heads of any other branches of the armed forces of the Federation as may be established by an Act of the National Assembly. (3) The President may, by directions in writing and subject to such conditions as he think fit, delegate to any member of the armed forces of the Federation his powers relating to the operational use of the Armed Forces of the Federation. (4) The National Assembly shall have power to make laws for the regulation of – (a) the powers exercisable by the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation; and (b) the appointment, promotion and disciplinary control of members of the armed forces of the Federation.” HURIWA said it has begun drafting another petition to be sent to the INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IN THE HAGUE NETHERLANDS so the suspects and Kaduna State government officials are charged for CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.
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.
Reactions have continued to trail the decision of the Nigerian government to shutdown telecommunications network in states affected by terrorism in the North-West region of the country. States such as Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and even neighboring Niger in the North Central have had telecommunications network shutdown in several local government areas.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), the agency saddled with the responsibility of overseeing and managing all communication architectures in the country ordered the shutdown of telecommunication networks in early September 2021 citing the war against terrorists elements in the region as yardstick.
In Katsina state, the President’s home state for example, at least 13 local government areas believed to be under the control of terrorists had telecommunications network shutdown since early September. This came after initial denial from the NCC that such was going to happen.
Neighboring Zamfara state also shutdown telecommunications network in the entire state for several weeks while Sokoto state did the same for 14 local government areas.
Niger state and also Kaduna state implemented network shutdown in parts as telecommunications networks in several local government areas were also shut down all in the guise of fighting terrorists.
While the states and federal government wants Nigerians to believe that the network shutdown is actually achieving the desired results, the realities on ground prove otherwise as the terrorists have not relented in their nefarious activities since the shutdown.
Even though the shutdown may have achieved some results in terms of diminishing the terrorists’ capacity to operate, the demerits outweigh the merits as over 300 people have been killed across the five troubled states of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger since the shutdown was implemented in September. A figure many like myself believe to be too high considering the fact that a much publicised military operation is ongoing in the region.
Abductions have also continued unabated as the terrorists have devised means of communication such as using satellite phones to bypass the effects of the shutdown or using network architectures in Niger Republic to carry out their operations.
In an interview with dailytrust, a popular Nigerian based newspaper, terrorists commander, Shehu Rekeb boasted that the shutdown of telecommunication networks in the area does not stop them from operating as they now use thuraya satellite phones which do not require the conventional GSM network to function. Rekeb also said that certain GSM networks still operate in some parts of the states where the shutdowns were in effect.
“There are places you can make calls if you have Glo aand Airtel lines,” he told the Daily Trust September 13. This further raises questions on the sincerity of the telecommunications network shutdowns in the area.
A resident of Zamfara who relocated to Kaduna in late September told me under the condition that his identity must be anonymous that some areas still have globacom and Airtel networks making it possible for the terrorists to still communicate and launch attacks on communities. His testimony further confirms the claim of Shehu Rekeb.
Aside from the huge negative impacts the network shutdown is having on citizens who rely on networks to carry out their daily legitimate productive activities, the shutdown has also failed to improve the security of the citizens of the region as the terrorists still carry out deadly attacks on communities almost on a daily basis. This week alone over 30 people have been killed in separate attacks in Zamfara and Katsina communities despite the ongoing military operations and network shutdown. On 26 of September, 38 people were killed by terrorists in Madamai and Abun communities in Mallagum district of Kaura local government area of Kaduna state. In the same week another 60 were killed in Sokoto and Niger communities in separate attacks.
Even the military fighting the terrorists in the North West are not exempted from the negative impacts of the network shutdown. On 11th of September 12 military personnel paid the supreme price when terrorists took advantage of the shutdown and launched a deadly attack on a forward military operation base in Mutumji, Zamfara state. Reacting to the attack, a too military source told dailytrust that the shutdown made it impossible for the troops to communicate amongst themselves when the terrorists attacked.
“While the jamming of GSM in Zamfara has gone a long way in taming the bandits, it also has a negative effect on troops because communication among them was also extremely restricted,” the source said.
“Most of the foot soldiers relied on normal phone networks instead of any of the specialised communication gadgets that should be deployed during operations such as the one going on in the North West.
“Only the top commanders have military radio or walkie-talkie, meaning those in the frontlines would only use their personal mobile phones which are no longer accessible.
“The bandits took advantage of this and attacked them at their forward operation base. As you can see, the attack was launched on Saturday but it only came to the fore days after,” he said. Another source said there was the need to deploy specialised communication gadgets for the troops.
“The ban on communication in Zamfara and parts of Katsina is not bad in its entirety but the military high command should have taken note of the adverse effect on troops.” The military source said.
In the same vein, another security source told Dailytrust in September that the telecommunications network shutdown was not ‘well-thought-out and bypassed the due process of getting clearance from the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, who oversees cyber security’.
In as much as some sessions of the Nigerian media would want to paint a scenario that the network shutdown and ongoing military operations in the North-West have achieved the desired results, citizens in the areas are daily counting their losses in the forms of burying their loved ones and inability to even send SOS calls when under terrorists attacks due to absence of telecommunication networks in the area.
Socioeconomic activities that rely solely on telecommunication network facilities to function have also been crippled in the region forcing many to be out of jobs in an economy where inflation is currently on an all time high.
The Federal government must as smarter of urgency and national importance review the ongoing suspension of telecommunication networks in the North-West region to ensure necessary measures are out in place to achieve maximum results.
Dealers of the so-called thuraya satellite phones in the country must be investigated and possibly prosecuted for aiding and abetting terrorists activities in the country.
Gunmen suspected to be terrorist herdsmen operating in Southern Kaduna have attacked St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic run major seminary situated in Fayit community in Kagoma Chiefdom, Jama’a local government area of Kaduna state on Monday night.
The terrorists invaded the school at about 8pm Nigerian time and began shooting sporadically, causing a pandemonium in the area.
A source who stays close to the school told MBT that the operations lasted for over an hour before local hunters and vigilante intervened and “chased the terrorists away.”
Middle Belt Times gathered that some students were abducted by the terrorists while others sustained injury during the attack.
Efforts to speak to authorities in the school for comments on the exact number of students abducted proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
Faults Barak Obama for Subverting War on Terror in Nigeria
Self-taught journalists in the Jos metropolitan area are the featured truth tellers of a ground-breaking documentary on the Nigerian conflict produced by Fox Nation reporter Lara Logan. Lawrence Zongo and Masara Kim, Plateau State natives, collaborated for months with war correspondent Logan to make the 38-minute film, which is the Fox News corporation’s first in-depth examination of the tragic loss of life some call Nigeria’s “Silent Slaughter.”
It will be reported at an invitation-only Press Conference in Miango on October 15 where elected lawmakers and community leaders will acknowledge the Rural Watch achievement.
The film has been excerpted in segments on the YouTube channel of ICON PSJ media: https://youtu.be/94bVIPo5yPI
Logan, known in the United States as an award-winning war correspondent, delves deeply into the views and motivation of five reporters associated with a group Zongo created called “Rural Watch.” The mentor of the group is Washington-based editor Douglas Burton, who enables the Rural Watch writers to get published in The Epoch Times. Lawrence Zongo, a high-school history teacher and human rights activist, teamed with Masara Kim, a respected conflict reporter in Jos, Luka Binniyat in Kaduna, and Tom Garba in Adamawa as well as many others.
The film credits the Nigerian reporters for making the dangerous and painstaking trips into rural villages in the Middle Belt to get testimonies of the victims and their families. Logan takes pains to stir the conscience of the West, long accused of being a “conspiracy of silence.” “Masara Kim,” she says in her narration, is the “eyes and ears of a world that doesn’t care.” After months of interviews with the conflict reporters and Nigeria asylum seekers in the West, Logan cuts through the fog of war to show who in Nigeria is killing who and why. Dr. Sulieman Yahaya Kwande, a former Representative of Bassa/ Jos North from the ruling party of All Progressive Congress (APC), has said that “Killings of any religion or tribe is an evil act and against the will of God. Nigeria authority should take quick action and stop such killings, I appreciate Lara Logan and the team of Rural Watch News for the timely report.”
“This documentary has been produced to open the heart, eyes and conscience of an otherwise unperturbed world to the wanton cruelty of bands of murderous Jihadists. I strongly commend this great effort,” according to Dr. Pogu Bitrus, National President of the Middle Belt Forum.
A respected scholar in Washington D.C. has said the film exceeded her expectations. “Even for those of us informed about the Fulani and Boko Haram atrocities — this film is an eye opener,” wrote Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute.
Among several revelations in the film, Logan documents how Barak Obama rebuffed President Goodluck Jonathan when he needed arms to fight Boko Haram and put its weight behind the election of Muhammadu Buhari.
The press event coincides with the grim anniversary of a massacre of 29 Christian villagers in a classroom of LEA Primary School Nkiendoro, for which no one has been held accountable. “They were looking for refuge at a military base to hide from their attackers, yet they were locked in the classroom and killed by Muslim Fulani terrorists as a result of the negligence of the Military,” according to Zongo.
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.
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.
The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that the fighter jets he is purchasing will be used to destroy the country.
The cleric stated this during a sermon at his church on Sunday.
According to Mbaka, Buhari should rather focus on building more industries
“The jets you are buying are going to be used to collapse Nigeria.
“Please, the first person to meet President Buhari after this message, should tell him that all these jets he is buying will be used to destroy Nigeria.
“God told me to tell him that,” he said.
“Let him stop buying more jets and begin to build more industries.”
Buhari, speaking last week, confirmed that “we have received new equipment in our fight against any form of insecurity from our friendly countries.”
“These assets will be deployed to accelerate the fight against insecurity in all parts of the country,” he added.
Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed attack on its operatives at Ngurore Police Station by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers.
The Police Command said the gunmen also attacked a house in the area and abducted a woman identified as Hauwa Umaru and her daughter in the early hours of Sunday.
Speaking on the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Sulaiman Ngurore said the attackers stormed the station at about 2 a.m. on Sunday, but no casualty was recorded.
“The criminals separated into two groups; one attacked the police station to divert the attention of security operatives, while the other group attacked Alhaji Umaru’s house and kidnapped his wife, Hauwa Umaru, and her daughter.
“The Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Mohammed Barde, has ordered the deployment of the operational assets including Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Crack Squad and Anti-Kidnapping units to Ngurore,” he said.
According to the police spokesman, the operational units were expected to carry out confidence-boosting patrols within the hotspots in coordinated operations to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the culprits.
The commissioner assured that the command was committed to working with other patriotic stakeholders towards restoring public order in Ngurore and other parts of the State.
