News

Media reports coming from Niger State in the north-central part of Nigeria have it that about 47 terrorists, also known as bandits, have on Wednesday been eliminated by “local hunters.”

The terrorists are notorious for unleashing terror on the communities in the Shiroro axis in Niger State.

The local hunters were said to have raided the hideous of the bandits in their large number in a riverside community that is located between Shiroro and Rafi Local Governments.

A police officer, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the raid on the terrorists.

He was quoted by PRNigeria as saying, “I can tell you for a fact that the bandits met their waterloo. At least 47 of them were eliminated by the hunters who participated in the operation.”

Niger State suffers incessant attacks by bandits who kill innocent people and kidnap students in large numbers.

A recent incident of abduction in the state was the kidnap of over 80 Islamiyya students in a community called Tegina.

Many of them, however, recently regained freedom after spending many days in captivity.

Local Government Election will not hold in Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Kajuru and Zangon Kataf local government areas of Kaduna State tomorrow 4th September, 2021 due to security reasons.

Details later.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Kaduna State Government has banned the transportation of livestock from the state to other states in the country and the transportation of livestock into Kaduna state from other states with immediate effect.

The directive was contained in a press release signed by the state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan. The Government also reiterated that the transportation of donkeys into the state is a criminal offence, and anyone found engaging in this will be prosecuted accordingly.

Furthermore, “the Kawo weekly market which usually holds every Tuesday in Kaduna North LGA has been suspended with immediate effect. The previous directives suspending weekly markets, and selling of petrol in jerrycans in Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kajuru LGAs, as well as banning the felling of trees for timber, firewood and charcoal and other commercial purposes in Birnin Gwari, Kachia, Kajuru, Giwa, Chikun, Igabi and Kauru LGAs, are still in force” Aruwan said.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Nigerian soldiers have killed 6 ISWAP terrorists in 2 separate operations, recovered, arms, ammunition and other items in Borno State.

Brigadier-General Onyema Nwachukwu, who is Director Army Public Relations made the disclosure in a statement on Thursday via Nigerian Army’s official Facebook page.

“Troops of 25 Brigade operating under the aegis of Joint Task Force, North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) have neutralised 4 terrorists of the Islamic State West Africa Province: (ISWAP) on Wednesday 31 August 2021. The terrorists who were on espionage along Damboa -Bulabulin-Maiduguri road ran into a fighting patrol team at Kukawa and were neutralised in the firefight that ensued with the troops. On further exploitation after the encounter, the gallant troops recovered from the terrorists, four AK 47 rifles and four Magazines, each loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition,” the statement indicated.

The brigadier-general further recounted how troops killed 2 more terrorists and recovered some logistic items.

He said, “In a separate operation, troops of 195 Battalion, Sector 1 OPHK in conjunction with elements of Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) at Dusman Muna Garage, Borno state have eliminated two ISWAP terrorists in an ambush operation conducted along an identified ISWAP terrorists crossing point at Musari village. 

“The troops also captured and destroyed an ISWAP logistics vehicle conveying assorted goods and contraband items belonging to members of the terrorist group. Items recovered by troops from the terrorists’ vehicle are two bags of Hemp (Cannabis Sativa), 2 bags of Detergent, 120 packets of mosquito coils, 12 mosquito nets and five textile materials. Other items recovered are two bycicles, two bags of beans, a bag of corn and some quantity of fish.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has fired the Ministers of Agriculture, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, and his counterpart of Power, Mamman Saleh.

Ministers of Environment, Mohammed Mahmoud Abubakar and State, Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu were asked to temporarily take charge of ministries of Agriculture and Power, respectively.

Their substantive replacements will be announced later.

Details later.

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Nigeria Police Force, in conjunction with local vigilantes, has on Monday succeeded in killing an infamous bandits’ leader in Niger State.

According to some media reports, the bandits’ leader, identified as Jauro Daji, was killed alongside other members loyal to him in the Kontagora axis of the State.

“It was the combined team of policemen and local vigilantes that killed Jauro Daji and score of his bandits who were on a mission to abduct innocent persons at a village.

“The notorious Jauro Daji who is suspected to be involved in attacks on villages and schools led other armed bandits in large numbers on motorcycles.

“The operation was successfully executed on Monday between Gulbin Boka to Dogon Fadama area under Kontagora Local Government Area. We also recovered ten motorcycles.

“We have recruited the services of local divers to retrieve the weapons some bandits who escaped with their corpses threw into the river,” an intelligence source told PRNigeria.

Niger State has also recently been badly hit by bandits’ incessant attacks, which saw many people killed and students in their hundred kidnapped.

By Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim

A Kano based Nigerian writer and photographer, Safiyya Muhammad Daba, has been announced as the winner of the Agenda 2063 women photojournalism award organised by African Women In Media (AWiM) in collaboration with the African Union and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

This announcement was made by African Women in Media (AWiM)  during the Agenda 2063 Women’s Photojournalism Awards virtual award ceremony held on July 28, 2021.

According to the organisers, the award was organised to “recognise and celebrate outstanding female photojournalists whose submission of African images will be defined by categories defined by the Goals and Aspirations of Agenda 2063.” All of the winners in each category will get the sum of $2000 each.

The amateur photographer won the award for her photo under the agriculture and rural environment, land rights and skills development category.

The hijab-wearing Muslimah took her time to travel around Kano State documenting the beauty of Africa through photography. She revealed that the award-winning photo was taken during her tour to Takai in 2019 after having intensive training by Equal Access International and National Geographic Photographers.

Nigeria’s Daba is the only Nigerian who won the award alongside three winners from Africa: Vanessa Chebet from Kenya; Fardosa Hussein from Somalia; and Arlette Bashizi from DRC under the various categories of the competition.

Reacting to winning the award during the ceremony, Mrs Daba said “my picture represents agriculture and rural environment and it shows how agricultural we are in Africa and how the rural environment looks like” 

Similarly, while speaking with the newspaper on the award, she expressed her excitement for winning the award.

“When I got the email from them, telling me to get prepared and set up my Microsoft Teams app, that It’ll be required to speak should I win the competition in the category I entered to compete in, I was so happy and I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears on the day of the award ceremony. It is really a great pleasure competing alongside professional photographers and photojournalists, and I am really humbled”

Commenting on how the award has impacted her journalism career, she stated that “the award is really a great achievement for me. It has inspired me to take pictures, especially those that will bring positive change to my society. Also want to encourage more women from the north to break this barrier of not having women in the so-called ‘men’s profession'”

Aishatu Aliyu

The Kano state Drugs and Medical Consumable Supply Agency has trained 80 students on mandatory industrial practical training at its office.

Presenting certificates at the graduation ceremony of the training, the Director-General of the Agency, Pharmacist Husham Imamiddeen, tasked the students to utilise their skills.

He said, “Amongst the responsibilities of the Drugs Medical Consumable Supply Agency is the production of qualitative and Affordable Drugs to the people of Kano State.”

The DG also stated that the Agency has a quality control unit, whereby tests were conducted before the release of drugs.

Pharmacist Imamudeen added that the students conducted their mandatory six months training on quality control, after which they were certified.

The trainees then commended the Agency for equipping them with the acquired skills and support during the training period.

By Ishaka Mohammed

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to announce the commencement of applications for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. 

According to UNDP in Nigeria, the federal government will make the announcement at 10 a.m.

The statement urged interested and qualified graduates and organisations to follow the page (facebook.com/UNDPNigeria) for more details on how to watch the announcement and apply.

Recall that the NJFP was launched in June with the aim of placing 20,000 graduates in 12-month fully paid employment.

For eligibility criteria, read: https://dailyrealityng.com/2021/08/25/nigeria-jubilee-fellows-programme-why-you-should-apply/

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Plateau State government has debunked reports making rounds that two luxurious buses had been set ablaze in Jos.

The report indicated that 2 luxurious buses conveying about 156 Igbo passengers had been set on fire.

This is coming a few days after violence erupted, which saw about thirty people killed.

The violence led to the imposition of a 24-hour curfew in the Plateau State capital, Jos.

Debunking the purported story, Mr Lalong, in a statement signed by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Simon Macham, said it“is purely the handiwork of crises merchants mischief-makers who want to create panic and instigate violence and fear among the people.

He added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the security situation in Plateau State is very much under control as security personnel have been deployed to all parts of Jos to enforce the 24-hour curfew still in force, as well as to ensure compliance with the dusk to dawn curfew in Jos South and Bassa LGAs.”