SOUTHERN KADUNA: BUILDING FROM THE RUINS

Being a Keynote delivered by Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq at the Public Presentation and Launch of: Southern Kaduna: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, at New Choice Hall, Kafanchan on Friday 10 February, 2023.

PROTOCOLS

Thank you for the privilege of this invitation. I thank Pastor Gideon Mutum and the organizing team for extending this invitation to me and I especially congratulate the Author, Pst. Philemon Cletus Gado, who deemed it worthy to capture his scholarly research and thoughts into a book and has now invited us to engage the ideas through the tripartite tangents of the past, the present and the future.
A quick walk down history’s lane:
An Austrian born German under whose leadership the Nazi party climbed to power became the Reich Chancellor in 1933. Brilliant, engaging but humanly debased and depraved, he capitalized on economic woes, popular discontent and political infighting to seize power in Germany and to fan the embers of virulent hatred against the Jews. By 1941, the anti-semitic sentiments of this son of a local customs official led to a deliberate and systematic murder of European Jews and it lasted untill1945- a period history tells us defined the second world war.
Prior to 1939, the global population of Jews worldwide had peaked at about 16.6 million. However, when it was all said and done and the beastly fangs of the holocaust had ravaged humanity and killed at least one in three Jews, six million Jews laid murdered. The figures next to the casualties was the varied forms the Jews were killed. The Germans called this “The Final Solution to the Jewish Question.” To put this in context, the Germans felt the Jews were a dispensable set of people who did not deserve to breathe the air above them nor walk the free ground beneath them.
Let’s flip the scene to the experience of a 4-year old in Zaria Nigeria, an experience that is personal because it is mine: One night in 1987, we were saying our night prayers and were singing the hymn ‘Have Courage My Boy to Say No’ ; when people outside our doors began to run helter-skelter. A neighbor ran into our house. My dad and mom tried to keep us all composed through the prayers but it was obvious that something terrible was going on outside. I looked up the wall before me; staring back at me was the long-term calendar that endured on our wall which read: ‘This Same Jesus is Coming Back Again. Are You Ready to Meet Him?’ I skimmed off the memories of what I had learnt at family devotions and in Sunday school and wondered silently if we would have to see Jesus that night.

We couldn’t round up the prayers. We ran through the back door of the house. There before us was thick smoke and darkness bellowing from the Campus. That was the longest, most terrifying night up until then. We made it through the night, but many were not so lucky.The next morning, my dad hobbled us into his blue Volkswagen Beetle car. We drove past Nassara Baptist church, it was burnt. We got to Ahmadu Bello University, Kongo campus, Rev. Dr. Ben Oruma had been beaten and left for dead, the chapel he preached in was razed down. Churches in GRA Sabon-gari and environs were burnt. We would later learn that it was a case of a religious disagreement in Kafanchan which snowballed into crises in Zaria and environs and resulted in the destruction of hundreds of lives and properties worth billions of naira. The beautiful world I imagined was shattered and I could not reconcile whether I was born a crime or for glory to reveal the majesty of my name.

The timelines will show that from the 1980 Kasuwan Magani crisis through 1986 in Yarkasuwa, Lere District,1987 in Kafanchan,1992 in Zangon Kataf,1999 in Southern Kaduna, 2000 which saw an unprecedented escalation in casualties, 2002 Miss World, 2011 in Anchuna, 2011 at Tabak, Kukum-Kagoro and then from 2012 till date, the cycle of violence meted on our communities in Southern Kaduna has continued. Our lives and history have been shaped by these unfortunate incidences. These are not slow-boiling conflicts as is often wrongly reported; they are systemic killings and mass atrocities crimes of genocidal proportions that demand international intervention.The political marginalization and the economic, educational and infrastructural deprivation, reveal a structural neglect. If that is not bad enough, under the Nasir Elrufai government, the region has experienced unprecedented persecution. Politically, the diversity of the state is not represented. Thousands of Civil servants and teachers have been thrown out of jobs. Tertiary institutions in Southern Kaduna were exclusively shut down by the Government. The identities of the people were changed by executive fiat and cultural heritages have been destroyed. Paramount leaders and dissenting civic voices and journalists have been imprisoned, kidnapped or killed.

But are we without hope? Hardly.

It was Nelson Mandela who said during the Healing and Reconciliation service in Johannesburg: ‘Our human compassion binds us the one to the other-not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.’
Mandela knew that for a people who suffer long term structural, systemic and often state-sponsored neglect, they would require hope and healing to move forward. The Jews knew it too. Today the story of the Jews goes beyond the Holocaust to a sterling example of how to build from the ruins.
Israel and the Jewish in the diaspora observe the annual “Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and the Courage of the Jewish People,” because while most Jews were mired in poverty at the beginning of the twentieth century, they are today global champions in commerce, manufacturing, international trade, Hollywood and in creative inventions and innovations. They have built social networks across many countries and have imbibed a culture that promotes universal literacy and book learning, while retaining a sense of common fate and deeply shared brotherhood.

As I think about the present and the future of Southern Kaduna, the ability of the Jews to build from the ruins of the Holocaust to becoming an indomitable global example comes to mind. And this is where I draw a distinction to how the Jews and Black Americans interpreted their tragedies. Pivotal to Jewish history is the Holocaust while Black America continues to suffer from racism and white domination. The Jews however decided to move into conqueror mode so that when they speak of the effects of the Holocaust, the scars remind them of triumph. For Black America, racism is a reminder of their victimhood.
I often review and think of the years of pain and suffering that our people have gone through. Indeed, like Sen. Shehu Sani opined on 20 December, 2022, “No part of Kaduna is spared of terrorists’ attacks, violence and kidnappings. However the killings in Southern Kaduna by terrorist groups is systemic; the people of that part of the state are also institutionally treated like the blacks under apartheid South Africa” (Emphasis mine).

The years of suffering and persecution in Southern Kaduna go way before the 1980s to the time when our mothers, sisters and forbears were carted away as slaves and forcefully married in Zazzau while harvested agricultural products in farms and barns were forcefully seized and used as fodder to feed the animals of slave masters. Amidst these oppressions, Southern Kaduna people fought and refused to be a conquered territory.
For those who may just have joined the story in recent times, the overwhelming nature of the painful experiences our people now suffer, may seem isolating and frustrating enough to make them say like the Prophet Elijah ‘…everyone else abandoned the covenant and I am the only one left’; but that would be factually false because our forebears battled and worked so hard to get us to where we are today.

Indeed, the ground we stand on is hallowed ground. It is the sum total of the struggles of our founding fathers and mothers who through bitter days of slavery and domination built a region, broke the shackles of slavery and insisted on their true cultural identity. They through communal, missionary and church efforts, established schools and institutions and handed unto us the baton to run our race with perseverance, to win where they failed, to rise from the ashes and square up our chests in full confidence of our identity as God’s own people and as a region that never says die.Now that the baton is in our hands, we cannot afford to fail our forebears.

BUILDING FROM THE RUINS.

I have often imagined a day when the woes of Southern Kaduna would come to an end; when our people will no longer be judged by where they come from but by their capacity and the content of their heart and brain. What has now become clear to me is that if we have to wait for that day to see our redemption, many of us may never get to that Promised Land as was the case for Moses and his peers. We must therefore continue to build in spite of our circumstances rather than wait until fair winds come. Flowing from that stream of consciousness and the lessons that History present, I make the following suggestions:

1. We must build a region where faith is anchored in character as opposed to empty religiosity. In a world that is increasingly becoming sullen and despicable in vices, we owe it as a duty to demonstrate faith through virtue and to be a people of substance who are known to be resolute in principles.
2. We must continue to invest in the two sectors that are our natural forte: Agriculture and Education. It is now difficult to get to the farms but our people must continue to device means to farm to feed and stay alive on safe lands while combatting the terrorists. Permit me to dwell a little longer on education. In their book, The Chosen Few: How Education Shaped Jewish History; Jewish authors, Maristella Botticini and Zvi Eckstein, explained why the Jews, a relatively small population, specialize in the most skilled and economically profitable occupation. They put it to one principal factor: Education. Through education, the Jews have conquered the fields of law, science, medicine, trade, commerce, entreprenurship and scholarship. Nelson Mandela also recognized education as a great vehicle to bring equality of opportunity when he said “ Education is the most powerful weapon which you can change the world…because a good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination but when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something special.”

We must therefore invest in education so that our fortunes are not just tied to our local circumstances but we become global citizens. This really was the sense by which the missionaries built schools and our fathers and mothers were able to leave the villages and compete with their peers in the cities. Today, that Southern Kaduna does not immediately appear as many of the children and young persons have no access to basic quality education. Every compound has at least, a literate person, this means the measure of education in each compound should be diffused to those who have not. It is time for a campaign for education to be shared and for local schools to be supported. Each one should teach one.

3. We must insist on our identity and culture. Cultural rights are human rights recognized in International Law and Covenants and the Nigerian Constitution. (See Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Sections 21 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). It is therefore criminal and a violation of rights for any government to change the names of chiefdoms or the identity of a people, desecrate their cultures or balkanize their identities. We must instill in our people pride in our identity and imprint in the children the assurance that we are enough. This means we must refuse to be named by what anyone thinks we are and lay hold of the original identities of our people and our lands. Traditional titles at all levels should be in our dialects and not in another external tribe. This is how a people define who they are and stamp it on the sands of time.
4. Hate and Violence must be banished. We cannot afford for today’s victims to become tomorrow’s combatants. Any region that has known perpetual violence has to consciously work to recalibrate against being defined by it. Moses as a deliverer in the Bible had to flee from Egypt on account of a Hebrew turning against a Hebrew. Black America battles with street violence and while there has been a long history of Black Americans being brutalized and killed by White policemen as was the 2020 case of Black American George Floyd being killed by White Police Derek Chauvin, we see a recent ugly twist: On 7 January, 2023, Black American Tyre Nichols was beaten by five black American Police men and was hospitalized in critical condition until he died three days later. We often know what to say when those who come against us are external enemies but what can we do when Cain kills Abel? It is the reason why faith, character and scholarship must be our guiding light as we try to navigate this present darkness.
   

CONCLUSION

We are not hopeless. When we weep, we must not mourn as though we have no God. We may be pressed but not crushed; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We are God’s own chosen people and must pass down to those coming behind us, the faith we so graciously received, the value of education that would make them global citizens and the full complement of who we are- a people who neither shrink nor bow to injustice, a region that does not only survive but thrives. So let us turn a new page, not of lamentation but of hope because as scripture tells us, hope does not make ashamed.

Kaduna Pastor Tackles Elrufai over Claims that Christians are few in the North

…Says the governor’s claims not backed by statistics and lack merit.

A Kaduna-based Pastor, Azzaman Azzaman has berated governor Nasiru Elrufai of Kaduna state over his comments on national television that Christians in the northern part of Nigeria live in enclaves and are few.

Recall that the controversial governor made the claims during a recent interview with TVC News, where he said that though Peter Obi is doing well in christian areas in the north, he won’t be able to win given the fact that northern Christians live in enclaves and are not much in numbers.

In a viral Facebook post he posted on his official Facebook page, Azzaman share statistics backing his claims that Christians have significant number in Northern part of the country.

The post reads;

“Nasiru Elrufai claims we Northern Christians are insignificant and inconsequential.

Fast checks;
This are 5 predominantly Christian states in Northern Nigeria based on the official censors figures of 2006 ( Incase of Kaduna and Adamawa election of Governors is not the basis for Population, many Northern Christians are disenfranchised from voting)

Plateau State -3,206,531

Taraba – 2,294,800

Benue – 4,253,641

Kaduna- 6,113,50 – Kaduna Christians not less than 3m

Adamawa – 3,178,950

From this 5 states alone we are talking of not less than 15million Northern Christians.

I didn’t include

Southern Gombe, Southern Kebbi (Zuru and the Dukawa axis) Southern Bauchi, Southern Borno (Chibok is 90% Christian) , Southern Yobe ( Fika area of Yobe) that have a substantial Christian Population.

I worked in Katsina State for 4 years nobody will tell me Hausa Christians are not 40% at least of Katsina Population. 4 Local Governments of Kano are predominantly Christians. Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Rogo and Sumaila LGAs. In some of this places I mentioned like Lere LGA where I come from in Kaduna State you will see 20 churches before you see 2 mosque go and very Nasiru Elrufai Lere is part of your State.

I did not mentioned Nasarawa State, FCT ABUJA, Kogi state, Kwara state and Niger State.

Northern Christians we are estimated to be not less than 50m. I dare Governor Nasiru Elrufai let’s restructure NIgeria and let Religion be included in the next NIgeria’s Population censors.

Northern Christians do not allow religious bigots like Nasiru Elrufai use psychological Jihad to damping your spirit. Come out with your PVCs all Northern Christians let proof to this liar he is actually what Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said he is a Pathological liar.

This is the same narration Nasiru Elrufai has been giving anywhere he speaks about Christians are 30% of Kaduna, before he lunch his Muslim Muslim ticket in 2019 he further reduced it to 27% he gives Population figures with his religious bigotry biased mind.

ELRUFAI’S RECENT ATTACKS ON PETER OBI

No rational minded human being takes El-Rufai serious. Always speaking from both sides of his watery mouth. We know for sure that he’s one of those jittery of Peter Obi landslide victory. This is the same Nasiru who said Obi can’t garner 200persons in Kaduna at rally. Obi has come to Kaduna for campaign rallies and the outcome made El-Rufai to bury his head in shame. All this noise he’s making is just empty and of no consiquence. About to expire politicians like Nasiru Elrufai should not be given any relevance and taking serious.”
Azzaman Azzaman.

The 2023 general elections have brought about a paradigm shift from the traditional two-party contest with the emergence of Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP.

Tobi Amusan nominated for Women’s World Athlete award

The world 100m hurdles champion and world record holder, Tobi Amusan, has been listed among the 10 nominees for the Women’s World Athlete of the Year organised by World Athletics.

The athletics body made this known in a press release published on their website on Wednesday, October 12.

The body had further mentioned that the 10 nominees had been selected by an international panel of athletics experts, from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

Amusan alongside Kenyan’s Faith Kipyegon, who is the current World 1500m champion and Diamond League 1500m champion, were the only Africans to nominated.

The statement read, “This week marks the opening of the voting process for the 2022 World Athletes of the Year ahead of the World Athletics Awards 2022.

“World Athletics is pleased to confirm a list of 10 nominees for Women’s World Athlete of the Year. These athletes were selected by an international panel of athletics experts, comprising representatives from all six continental areas of World Athletics.

“It has been another memorable year for the sport and the nominations reflect some of the standout performances achieved at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22, World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22, one-day meeting circuits and other events around the world.”

The athletic body also added that fans would also be able to vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms and the top five finalists would be announced on Monday, October 31.

“The World Athletics Council and the World Athletics Family will cast their votes by email, while fans can vote online via the World Athletics social media platforms. Individual graphics for each nominee will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube this week; a ‘like’ on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or a retweet on Twitter will count as one vote.

“The World Athletics Council’s vote will count for 50% of the result, while the World Athletics Family’s votes and the public votes will each count for 25% of the final result.

“Voting for the World Athletes of the Year closes at midnight on Monday 31 October. At the conclusion of the voting process, five women and five men finalists will be announced by World Athletics.

“The winners will be revealed on World Athletics’ social media platforms in early December.”

Probe Corruption Allegations Against CJN by Supreme Court justices –HURIWA Tells NJC, CCT

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Wednesday, urged the National Judicial Council and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to swing into action and probe the corruption allegations levelled against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, by 14 serving justices of the Supreme Court. HURIWA said the CJN should step down as Chairman of the NJC for the purposes of this investigation.  

HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, noted that failure of the NJC and the CCT to investigate the graft allegations levelled against Muhammad, is tantamount to injustice considering the fact that his predecessor, Walter Onnoghen, was removed on a controversial note following some allegations against him which was probed by both the NJC and the CCT.

Recall that the 14 Supreme Court justices recently protested their welfare and asked the CJN whether their funds had been diverted.

In a petition to Muhammad, the justices said, “In the past, justices were nominated to attend two to three foreign workshops or training per annum with accompanying persons for reasons of age. Since your Lordship’s assumption of office, Justices only attend two workshops in Dubai and Zanzibar. They were not accorded the privilege of travelling with accompanying persons as was the practice.

“Your Lordship totally ignored this demand and yet travelled with your spouse, children, and personal staff. We demand to know what has become our training funds, have they been diverted, or it’s a plain denial.

“Your lordship may also remember that the national assembly has increased the budgetary allocation of the Judiciary. We find it strange that in spite of the upward review of our budgetary allocation, the Court cannot cater for our legitimate entitlements. This is unacceptable!”

Though Muhammad through his media aide had offered defence against the allegations, HURIWA demanded that the NJC and the CCT step in and probe the CJN for such weighty allegations. HURIWA said the intervention of Body Of Benchers to mend the broken fences between the Justices and the CJN is not acceptable but it’s as good as treating serious issues of breach of the law as a family affair.  The Rights group said Nigeria have law enforcement agencies that statutorily investigate alleged crimes but seeking tk cover it up in the name of negotiating truce is primitive and crooked. 

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “The NJC, the CCT and the National must swiftly probe the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad. The corruption allegations levelled against him are too weighty to be ignored considering the fact that these are allegations from Supreme Court justices.

“The matter should not be left for the Muhammad to resolve as he can’t be a judge in his own case since he is being accused of corruption. It is a big disappointment if those allegations are validated because of the fact that people who should uphold the law are not to break it with impunity. But of course these are all mere allegations but merit thorough independent investigation.  

“HURIWA calls on the NJC, the CCT, the National Assembly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to probe Muhammad just as they all investigated his predecessor, Walter Onnoghen. This is what justice and equity means. There must be no sacred cows.”

June 22, 2022

Emmanuel Onwubiko

National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

SOKAPU Youths Caution Party Delegates Against Monetary Inducement

Ahead of the party primaries slated for this month, the youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union SOKAPU has called on party delegates in Southern Kaduna to shun all forms of monetary Inducements from politicians during the primary elections.

The group in a statement issued by it National Youth Leader, Comrade Isaac John (SirJay) on Sunday said Southern Kaduna has gone through turbulent times and therefore deserves capable leaders in 2023.

The statement reads in parts;

“Southern Kaduna has been through turbulent times in recent years with scores killed, properties destroyed, and economic activities relegated to the background.

“These unfortunate happenings are undoubtedly tied to the poor quality of our choices, but particularly as it concerns elections.

“It is on this backdrop that the Youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples’ Union (SOKAPU) urge all Southern Kaduna delegates taking part in the forth coming primary elections starting today 22nd May, 2022 across all political parties to endeavor to vote for candidates with the overall interest of Southern Kaduna, capable of attracting developments and empowering women and youths.

“It is important to remind us that Southern Kaduna is the only home we all can call ours and must come first in all our dealings.

“Delegates must know that the choices before them are clear, they must not mortgage the future of Southern Kaduna on the basis of who have given them cars or motorcycles. They must not sale their votes to the highest bidder. It is our believe that the delegates will do what is right.

“May our good Lord direct our paths in the right direction now and always.

HURIWA TO GOV. TAMBUWAL, SOKOTO COLLEGE MANAGEMENT: YOU HAVE BLOOD OF DEBORAH IN YOUR HANDS

… Carpets President Muhammadu Buhari’s conspiratorial silence on the STONE AGE BARBARIC MURDER OF DEBORAH SAMUEL YAKUBU

Frontline Civil rights advocacy group-: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the conspiratorial silence for over 24 hours of President Muhammadu Buhari over the brutal hacking to death of a 200 level Christian Student of the Sokoto College of Education Miss  Deborah Samuel Yakubu by Islamic extremists in the school over alleged blasphemy.

Warning that reprisals may become inevitable  if the case of murder of Deborah in Sokoto is swept under the carpets like similar cases of murders of Christians over alleged blasphemy  by Islamists in Kubwa Abuja and twice in Kano State, the Rights group told Sokoto state governor Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and the hierarchy of the ill fated school that the blood of the innocent Christian girl murdered in broad daylight is on their heads and generations unborn won’t forgive them for seemingly ominous inaction. HURIWA is by this statesman urging that the strongest deterrent action provided by law is applied against these killers of Deborah who are even captured on video recordings or else the Federal Government has unwittingly authorised that reprisals should occur and these violence will do Nigeria no good because religious violence could lead to a civil war. 

“HURIWA is very much aware, that President Muhammadu Buhari did not mince words to condemn Indigenous Peoples of Biafra(IPOB) even without any scientific evidence linking them remotely or otherwise to the gruesome and despicable beheading of the soldiers’ couple massacred by unknown gunmen reportedly on their way to a traditional wedding in the South East of Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari even gave order that the killers be hunted down and dealt with decisively by military forces.”

HURIWA continued thus: “President Muhammadu Buhari did this aforementioned hurried but generally hasty reaction because the perceived or suspected killers are Igbos, an Ethnicity that his administration has treated with the short end of the stick for not voting for him in 2015 and 2019. But since over 28 hours that a Christian student of the Sokoto College of Education Deborah Samuel Yakubu was lynched by Islamic students for alleged blasphemy, President Muhammadu Buhari has maintained conspiratorial silence as if the innocent blood that was shed by the Extremists is not that of a human being. This same hypocrisy of conspiratorial silence was noticed with the Sokoto State governor who stayed away from taking action but secretly sent his commissioner for higher education to speak on the murder. We in HURIWA want to let him Tambuwal and Buhari know that so long as there is no justice for this murdered Martyr Miss Deborah Yakubu, her innocent blood is on their heads”. 

HURIWA condemned the  management of Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto for standing by and for doing next to nothing whilst the riotous Islamic extremists within the students body descended on their fellow Students and killed her like a chicken but only made timid announcement of the so-called indefinite closure of the institution after a female student was reportedly killed for alleged blasphemy.

HURIWA said it is preposterous that the late student, believed to be a Christian, was stoned to death and burnt just because she was reportedly  said to have attributed her academic excellence to Jesus and rankled by her response, she was asked to withdraw the statement — to which she refused even as her refusal to apologise made the mob attack her and then set her body ablaze. The Rights group wondered when Sokoto has become an Islamic State when section 10 of the Constitution recognises Nigeria as a SECULAR STATE whereby no RELIGION IS A STATE RELIGION.”

HURIWA quoted a source as stating that “She (Deboraj Yakubu Samuel) was having an argument with some of her schoolmates over their ongoing examination and when she was asked how she managed to pass her exams, she said it was Jesus,” the source was quoted as saying. “She was asked to withdraw the statement and apologise which she refused. “The school security intervened, and took her to their post but they were overpowered by students after which she was killed in the process. After killing her, her body was burnt on the school premises.” Reacting to the incident, the college directed all students to vacate its campus immediately.

The college said thus: “Following today’s early morning Students rampage in the college, the college management has resolved to close down the college indefinitely with immediate effect. Consequently, all students are hereby directed to vacate the College campus immediately (12th may, 2022),” the statement read.

HURIWA in a statement by Conrade Emmanuel Onwubiko its National Coordinator however blamed the management for not adequately providing her security by failing to call for police and military beef up but simply sacrificed the Christian Student at the altar of religious extremism and hypocrisy. 

HURIWA said religious pluralism and freedoms have suffered organised criminal attacks since President Muhammadu Buhari who before he won election in 2015 supported the introduction of full shariah law in Northern Nigeria, became President but nobody who killed Christian has ever been known to have been punished in accordance with the law of Nigeria thus creating the impression that the laws of Nigeria are not meant to be effective in the core Moslem North. 

HURIWA condemned the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for reportedly debunking his initial condemnation of the dastardly act of killing by the Extremists of Deborah just as the Rights group said Atiku Abubakar has a terrible record of not intervening when Christians are killed by his kinsmen but yet he hopes to win the votes of Christians as he seeks the ticket of the opposition PDP to become their Presidential Candidate this month. 

HURIWA dismissed ATIKU ABUBAKAR as someone who lacks principles and is perpetually afraid of Islamic fundamentalists thus creating the image of himself as a Moslem bigot. ATIKU ABUBAKAR DENIED EVER CONDEMNING THE KILLING OF THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN GIRL DEBORAH IN SOKOTO BECAUSECISLAMISTS THREATENED HIM ON HIS FACEBOOK AND TWEETER NOT TO CAST THEIR VOTES FOR HIM. LET US ASK ATIKU ABUBAKAR,  IF YOUR DAUGHTER IS AT THIS RECEIVING END OF THIS BARBARIC MURDER,  WILL YOU OREFER THE SO CALLED VOTES OF THE LAWLESS ISLAMISTS OR WILL YOU STAND BY THE NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION WHICH IN SECTION 36(5) GUARANTEES FAIR HEARING TO ALL ACCUSED PERSONS SND SECTION 6 CONCEDES JUDICIAL POWER OF THE FEDERATION TO THE COURTS OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION LOSTED THEREIN? WE ASK PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI,  IF ONE OF YOUR DAUGHTER IS THE ONE TREATED LIKE A CHICKEN LIKE DEBORSH OF SOKOTO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, WILL YOU MAINTAIN CONSPIRATORIAL SILENCE AS IF YOU ARE NOT ON THIS PLANET WITH US?”

JUST-IN: Military Raids Turji’s Hideout, Kill Scores Of Bandits In Zamfara, Sokoto Forests

The notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, is reportedly ‘incapacitated’ after sustaining severe injuries when military fighter jets raided his hideouts and bandits camps in the North-West.

The attack jets of the Air Task Force, (ATF), Operation Hadin Kai, also killed several bandits in the raid carried out at some forests in Zamfara and Sokoto States, early Saturday morning.

A military intelligence source told PRNigeria that the Air Task Force aggressive operation, in conjunction with ground troops of the Nigerian Army, took place at Shinkafi town in Zamfara State, and Bafarawa, Isa, Sabon Birni areas of Sokoto State.

According to the intelligence source, the actual number of bandits who were eliminated by the dawn airstrikes could not be ascertained.

PRNigeria, however, gathered that some bandits who sustained serious injuries attempted to flee, but were ambushed by ground troops.

“Apart from spontaneous operations in Katsina and Zamfara, from 16-17 December 2021, strikes were conducted by NAF aircraft at bandits camps in Isa, Sabon Birni axis and East Tozei where several bandits were eliminated while others escaped in disarray.

“Furthermore on the morning of 18 Dec 21, airstrikes were carried out in Gebe Village, Sokoto State where bandits were hitherto harassing innocent citizens were also mercilessly dealt with. Yet, few of the bandits still escaped, abandoning their weapons, in the process,” the source added.

Revealing how their military operation was conducted in the two North-West States, another intelligence operative of the Nigerian Army, said recent joint operations by air and ground troops a
were yielding positive results.

He said a General Officer Commanding (GOC) led troops to strongholds of the bandits in Sokoto and Zamfara States, while at the same time multiple airstrikes of the military attack jets pounded the criminal bandits.

“Many of them were neutralized. Credible reports indicate that Turji was badly wounded by today’s strike and if not dead. There were civilians that were also set free, after our military raids at the bandits’ forest camps,

“There may likely be collateral damages in communities where bandits are harboured and protected because some community leaders are reluctant to provide useful information on the bandits in their areas,” he stated.

[Leadership]

Sokoto State is in Dire Distress, Act Now Mr President: Gov Tambuwal Tells Buhari

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the current security challenges bedeviling the state, saying that Sokoto state is in dire distress(sic).

Tambuwal made this call in an ex-tempore address on Friday December 10 when a high powered federal government delegation led by the National Security Advicer to the President, General Babagana Monguno, visited the state to condole him and the people of the state over the barbaric killing of 23 passengers by terrorists group on December 6, 2021 at Gidan Bawa community in Sabon Birni local government area of the state.

“It is with gratitude to Almighty God that we receive this important high level delegation of the Federal Government under the leadership of Mr President, Presu Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) to Sokoto this very day, who are here to commiserate and condole the government and people of Sokoto state; in particular, the immediate families of those who lost their loved ones. It is indeed gratifying to receive you at this very hour of distress in which we are really emotionally touched.

“I am sure you are abreast of the development of that day, Monday, the 6th of December, when a commuter bus conveying about 43 passengers on their way to Kaduna was attacked by bandits. When the bus somersaulted, they continued with the firing until when they got to the fuel tank of the vehicle that went up in flames. Unfortunately, 23 of our beloved brothers and sisters lost their lives. We will continue to pray that Allah (SWT) will grant them Jannatul Firdaus; and, those of them who sustained injuries, be healed completely through His grace. May He continue to provide succor to the families of those affected. Mr NSA, we are consoled by this visit and concern shown to his citizens by Mr President. We are, indeed, very grateful for this show of love and concern.” He said.

The governor complained on the abrupt security operations embarked upon by the military in Zamfara state against the earlier plea of governors of the Northwestern states that a coordinated security operations be launched across the region simultaneously.

“As I have said some months ago, our situation in Sokoto state got worsened by the military operations in Zamfara state. The operations took us by surprise. I can tell you, Mr NSA, we the Governors of North-West have been appealing for this operations for the last four years. What we requested was that once the military is ready for the operations, it should be carried out simultaneously in Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger states where we are having infiltration of these criminals. Unfortunately, Zamfara was isolated and this was what we got by Operation Hadarin Daji, which was carried out without any blocking force around the neighboring states, particularly speaking for Sokoto state. Also, the timing of the operation, whereby, unfortunately, our security agents do not have enough equipment to move to move and curtail and contain those that would pander towards Sokoto state, didn’t help. So, the timing and way the operation was carried out left Sokoto very vulnerable.

“We are, I must say, the NSA, in a very dire state of distress. Even this afternoon I got information that there was an attack in broad daylight in some parts of Isa local government. Yesterday evening, there were attacks in some parts of Sabon Birni. Kidnapping is still going on in some parts of Tangaza, Illela and several other local government areas of the state. It does appear as if those bandits pursued from Zamfara state have relocated to Sokoto state. This is a very serious call for concern.” He lamented.

A visibily disturbed Tambuwal, also called on President Buhari through the NSA to deploy more forces and resources to Sokoto to help curtail the activities of terrorists which has worsened in the last few weeks.

“I appeal, therefore, to you, and through you, to Mr President, Commander-Chief to deploy more resources to Sokoto state. There is need for more boots on the ground. I am familiar with the situation at the center, but I believe that something can be done, and, that should be done urgently and expeditiously because our situation is getting out of hand.

“We, Mr NSA, as I have said before, need to do more on the deployment of technology in this fight. This is not a normal fight. You know more than I do. So, we need more of technology than even the personnel, although we need both. But, we need more of technology deployment. So, NSA, we believe that it is time for Mr President, as he is being called upon, to consider recalling those retired personnel who are on the reserve list, because we know that the number of our personnel is very low; and, there is need for reinforcement. The first port of call should be those on the reserve list. We also need to recruit more personnel because we know our number in Nigeria, over 200 million people. Definitely, the Nigerian state is under-policed. We all know the situation.” He appealed.

The former House of Representatives Speaker, further stated that as governors of the country, they are with President Buhari, One hundred precent, saying that in Sokoto state, the state government has provided no fewer than 500 vehicles to security personnel to facilitate their operations in the state.

“We are with Mr President one hundred per cent as Governors of this country in taking every measure required to ensure that we nip this in the bud. Here in Sokoto state, you can verify this from the heads of security agencies. There is nothing they have asked of us that we have not done. Absolutely nothing. Since the commencement of this administration, we have given security personnel in Sokoto state not less than 500 vehicles. We are also doing whatever it takes in terms of funding from our own end despite the lean resources that we have as a state.

“I believe there is need for more synergy, personnel and equipment in Sokoto state. So, please, convey this our request to Mr President. We are in a very bad situation in Sokoto state and we need his intervention urgently.

Recall that daredevil terrorists on December 6 burnt some passenger vehicles conveying travelers, killing 23 people at Gidan Bawa community, an occurrence that sparked up protests across some cities in Northern Nigeria on Friday.

Youths in the region hit the streets on Friday, calling for an end to the incessant attacks and killings of innocent citizens in Northern Nigeria.

Don’t Stop Church Buildings When We Have 6 Mosques In The Campus – Kaduna Pastor tackles KASU Management

Kaduna Based Pastor and preacher of the word of God, Pastor David Ayuba, popularly known as Azzaman Azzaman, yesterday spoke truths to power In a bid to settle the problem of religious intolerance taking tolls in Kaduna State and other Northern States of the Federation.

Middle Belt Times confirmed that, despite having six (6) Mosques in the Kaduna State University, strategical built across the school campus, no single church building can be found as Christians only carryout church activities under canopies as a result.

Speaking on the striking differences infiltrated into the system is Pastor Azzaman, who explosively dragged the Kaduna State Government and the school Management, the Clergyman believes stoping Christians who didn’t have a single church in the University from erecting a church is barbaric, unheard of and reprehensible, adding that the Gospel of God cannot be stopped or tamed for whatever reason.

“How can the Management stop the church From continuing her Construction project and advised them to fellowship in canopies, are Muslims in the school fellowshipping in canopies?” Pastor Azzaman questioned.

The Clergyman however declared that, “no one can stop a project that seeks to glorify the name of the Lord, adding the Catholic & Protestant Churches will be built on the School soil with Blocks and not temporary Canopy.”

“Kaduna State belongs to both Christians and Muslim, statistics show that Kaduna State has over 4 Million Christians, so any attempt to Favour one Region at the expense of the other will be resisted with outmost priority.” He said.

“Let those orchestrating this division be careful, We will cry to God and he’ll answer us accordingly. “Pastor Azzaman said.

(NRN)

BREAKING: Scores Feared Abducted as Terrorists Attack Abuja-Kaduna Road for the second time in 24 hours

By Steven Kefas, Abuja

Terrorists on Monday 22, November abducted some yet to be ascertained number of road users along the dreaded Abuja-Kaduna express way.

This abduction is coming barely 24 hours after a prominent Zamfara politician was killed while many commuters were abducted along the Kateri axis of the road.

The terrorists in their numbers blocked the Sabon Atilibu (Near Gidan Bussa) axis of the road at about 5pm Nigerian time and began shooting sporadically, forcing motorists and road users to abandon their vehicles and scamper for safety

Middle Belt Times reporter who was en-route to Abuja from Kaduna witnessed the incident firsthand and reported that many travelers were abducted from two vehicles; an 18 seater bus and a saloon car.

On the spot of the abduction, the reporter observed dozens of heavily armed security men comprising of the military, the police and the civil defence were seen standing instead of engaging the terrorists.

The reporter counted over 70 vehicles parked on both lanes of the road leading to a blockade.

At about 5:15pm, the terrorists retreated into the forests with the abductees as the security men on ground watched in awe.

Traffic was eventually restored afterwards as commuters struggle to leave the area.

A commercial driver who spoke to MBT reporter on condition of anonymity blamed the recent waves of abduction along the road on the deplorable state of the road and the network shutdown embarked upon by the Kaduna state government.

“The bad state of the road is actually aiding the activities of the bandits.

“They usually go to bad spots along the road because they know that road users must apply brakes on such spots to avoid damaging their vehicles.” He said

He also said that the shutdown of telecommunication networks in parts the state which affected the Abuja-Kaduna express way, makes it impossible for road users encountering danger to call to inform other road users or the security.

“Before now, whenever there is such operations, our colleagues who may have gone ahead of us usually call to inform us to be careful or call the security for help but now everybody is on his own.” He lamented.

Recall that, the Kaduna state government in October announced the shutdown of telecommunication networks in some parts of the state, citing an ongoing war against terrorists as reason for the the shutdown.

Several communities in Chikun and other parts of the state, especially Southern Kaduna have come under repeated attacks despite the ongoing military operations.

In October, 66 worshipers were abducted from a Baptist church in Kakau community in Chikun local government area of the state. Two out of the 66 were later killed by their captors while three were injured in captivity.