FirstAfricaTimes

  The Kaduna State Government on Friday said bandits have killed eight persons in Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Sabon Gari Local Government Areas of the state. The state government also said that two suspected bandits were killed in reprisal attacks. The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan confirmed the killings in a statement on Friday in Kaduna. Aruwan said: “Security agencies reported that bandits invaded Na’ikko village in Giwa LGA and community volunteers engaged the bandits and in the ensuing gun duel, three residents were killed. “In reaction to this, youths of Na’ikko village attacked a nearby Fulani settlement, Rugan Abdulmuminu and killed two persons in allegation of being involved in the initial attack. “In another incident, bandits invaded Dakyauro village, Sabon Birni, Igabi LGA and killed four persons after rustling about 25 cows. Two persons were also injured in the attack.” Aruwan also said a community leader was killed by suspected bandi...

  Some rice farmers in Nguru local government area of Yobe State have urged the state government for solution as  herders  have continued to destroy their farmlands. A manager of Slightedge Rice Mill, Kalisu Gure, lamented that the company-owned rice farm lost 200 hectares of the farmland to a recent invasion of the herders. He explained that herders with their cattle in large numbers have over the last one month trespassing on their farmlands and destroying farm produce worth millions of naira. According to him, the situation has been scaring investors and threatening job opportunities for hundreds of youths in the area.“There is need for government to quickly intervene to avoid clash that may occur because farmers cannot continue to watch if the destruction continues and it will lead to violent conflict. “We are in Nguru for business, so we established a rice factory, that’s why we have a farmland there and we have provided reasonable jobs to the residents in both the f...

  A former Kaduna Central Senator and civil rights advocate, Comrade Shehu Sani, has raised the alarm that scores of travelers have been kidnapped on Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Friday. Senator Sani took to his social media handles to announce the incident. On Facebook, he posted: “Scores  kidnapped  along Kaduna Abuja road, in between Jere and Katari villages this Friday afternoon.” Earlier on his Tweeter handle, the former lawmaker advised Nigerians to be careful while plying Kaduna-Abuja Road as bandits have blocked the ever-busy road. In a tweet on Friday, Sani wrote: “I have just got a call that Bandits have blocked the Kaduna Abuja road, in between Jere and Katari village in this broad daylight. Scores of people were kidnapped while many have made a fast u-turn in the face of gunshots.”

   The Centre for Information Technology and Development  has urged  the Nigerian government to redouble its  efforts  in the development of the nation's education and health system for a better Nigeria. The Federal Capital Territory(FCT) State Coordinator for  CITAD  Youth Digital Engagement  programme, Mubarak Ekute made the call on Thursday in Abuja  in an interview with journalists during an event to mark the 2021 International children's Day celebration held in some  neglected communities in the FCT.  S peaking on the theme of this year's celebration tagged: "Unite to Reverse the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Children," he noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the poor state of the educational institution,  health sectors, insecurity, and other sectors of life, which  has a lots of negative impacts on our children." Children from Gofidna community in FCT in celebration mood during the Children's Day celeb...

  Following   the recent kidnap and release of 37 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation Afaka, Kaduna State, the federal government has concluded plans to relocate the school from Afaka to a safer location within the Kaduna metropolis. The federal government has also said the school fees of all the 37 kidnapped and released students had been waived throughout their study in the institution. Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday at the college premises, the college provost, Dr Usman Bello, said the federal government’s action was to encourage the affected students to continue with their education. He said bandits had on 11th March, 2021 stormed the college at about 10pm and whisked 37 students, mostly females into the forest. “While 10 of them were released in two batches of five each on 5th and 12th April, 2021 respectively, the remaining 27 students were released on 5th May after spending 55 days in captivity,” he stated. Bello continued, ...

  The founder and CEO of Brekete Radio and programme, Ahmed Isah, also known as Ordinary President, has been arrested by the Police. Isah, who confirmed his arrest while speaking exclusively with Leadership yesterday in Abuja, said that he had been in police custody since yesterday morning. Isah said he was arrested by the police in connection with the BBC Eye Documentary. According to him,  “I have been at the police station since morning. I have been arrested by the police over the same matter.’’ He assured that he would speak further with Leadership after his release. Earlier, a Facebook post by the organisation said Ordinary President has not been seen since he honoured an invitation to the FCT Police Command Monday morning. The post read; “Ordinary President, founder and CEO of Brekete Radio and TV programme honoured an invitation to the FCT police command this morning. We want the public to know that we are yet to see or reach him. Thank you for sharing and retweeting.”

  Gunmen on Tuesday attacked the Iwollo Police Division in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Enugu State and razed down the station. The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed the attack in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Aliyu, who could not give details of the incident, said he was already on the ground to ascertain the level of destruction and casualties. “More information will be pushed out to the public as soon as we conclude our preliminary investigation,’’ he said. However, an eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the hoodlums attacked the division in their large numbers in the wee hours of the day. The eyewitness said that the attack threw the entire Iwollo community into fear and panic throughout the night. “They succeeded in completely razing down the buildings in the divisional station. “The hoodlums might have also killed probably five gallant police personnel that confronted them when they attacked’’...

  A Nigerian passport racketeering gang based in Baltimore, Maryland United States, has been busted.  The Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija disclosed this to executive members of Egbe Omo Yoruba of Greater New York, when they visited him. The Consul-General of Nigeria in New York, Amb. Lot Egopija disclosed this to executive members of Egbe Omo Yoruba of Greater New York, when they visited him. Only yesterday, when we started this new way of thinking (new approach to consular issues), we apprehended a racketeering team; this team is based in Baltimore (Maryland). “Baltimore is not within our jurisdiction; they will do processing over there and they linked up with someone I term self-appointed Liaison who had his wings in the consulate. “We have apprehended them and the staff that was compromised too and we have assured Nigerians that you don’t need to know anyone, they can obtain services without additional incentive,” he said. The consul-general told his...

  The Centre for Information  Technology and Development (CITAD) with support from Actionaid Nigeria has resorted to the use of visual arts as part of strategies to draw attention of   government at all levels, non-governmental organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians to the plight of neglected communities in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. Actionaid Nigeria is a non-profit organisation working to ensure social justice, equity and good governance in the society while CITAD is a similar organisation that is committed to the use of information technologies for development and promotion of good governance.         The artistic creation in stages as it took place Saturday in Abuja. In view of the powerful effect of pictures and its impact in invoking emotions and better telling a story, the organization said it decided to use this strategy on behalf of the communities, to reach out to their leaders in the government, organisa...