News

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The House of Representatives decried the incessant security challenge in communities bordering Taraba and Plateau states, urging the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Leo Irabor, to begin joint security operations in the areas. 

This reportedly followed the adoption of a motion by a member from Taraba State, Abdulsalam Mubarak.

Mubarak raised an urgent need to mitigate the security challenge of banditry and kidnapping in the areas.

He lamented that banditry in the areas had skyrocketed with several reported cases of killings, rape and kidnappings.

However, the House also pleaded with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the North East Development Commission to assess the damage cost by banditry and provide palliative to the victims.

Insecurity is one of the menacing challenges that militate against peace in communities bordering Taraba and Plateau and the entire northeastern and northwestern parts of the country. 

Several hundreds of people were reported dead due to the insecurity, with many others kidnapped, raped or displaced. 

By Muhammad Sabiu

Following a boat tragedy on the Shagari River in the Shagari local government area of Sokoto state, 26 people have been confirmed deceased, with the search continuing.

Aliyu Dantani, Chairman of Shagari Council Area, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Wednesday that the accident happened on Tuesday evening.

Dantani added that 21 of the 26 bodies retrieved were women, while five were children, and that a search and rescue attempt was still underway.

On the other hand, the chairman stated that the exact number of passengers on the boat could not be determined right away.

He said that local divers were currently in the river, trying to figure out how to recover dead or save lives.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has demanded the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over the incessant security challenge bedevilling the northwestern part of the country. 

The Director, Publicity and Advocacy of NEF, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, made the call on Tuesday saying that Nigerians cannot continue to live and die under the dictates of bandits.

Baba-Ahmed lamented that Nigerians had shed enough tears and blood without an appropriate response from those with responsibilities to protect us.

He added that President Buhari’s administration does not appear to have answers to the challenges of security to which Nigerians are exposed. 

He stated that “We cannot continue to live and die under the dictates of killers, kidnappers, rapists and sundry criminal groups that have deprived us of our rights to live in peace and security.

“Our constitution has provisions for leaders to voluntarily step down if they are challenged by personal reasons, or they prove incapable of leading.
“It is now time for President Buhari to seriously consider that option since his leadership has proved spectacularly incapable of providing security over Nigerians. 

“Our Forum is aware of the weight of this advice, and it is also aware that we cannot continue to live under these conditions until 2023, when President Buhari’s term ends,” Baba-Ahmed said.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Bandits have invaded a mosque at Maisamari town in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State and killed Alhaji Abdulkadir Maisamari, a district head.

A source disclosed that Maisamari was shot dead during Ishai prayers on Monday night.

The bandits were reported to have opened fire shortly as they roamed the prayer ground. 

However, residents reportedly confronted the gunmen, forcing them to run for their lives. 

The bandits were also said to have fled into a mountain close to the town.

The Taraba State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the incident to journalists. 

By Ishaka Mohammed

The Nigeria Police Force has shortlisted qualified candidates for the next stage of its 2021 recruitment of constables.

In a statement signed by the force’s acting public relations officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, applicants who attended the physical screening exercise are to check their application status on http://www.policerecruitment.gov.ng.

Qualified candidates are urged to print their slips for the Computer-Based Test (CBT) scheduled to hold on April 20 and 21, 2022, at designated centres nationwide.

On his part, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, maintains that “the recruitment is absolutely free”, adding that applicants should be wary of criminal elements who might want to dupe them. He urges candidates to channel their complaints through 08100004507 or support@policerecruitment.gov.ng.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Nigerian soldiers have captured a large sum of money intended to pay for the release of several captives held by armed bandits in Kaduna State.

Some of the ransom payment couriers are alleged to be security personnel, according to media reports.

Kidnapped victims, including women and children, were also rescued by troops participating in intelligence-driven military operations.

The operations, which were carried out concurrently by Nigerian Army ground soldiers and special forces from the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, resulted in eliminating several bandit terrorists.

According to an intelligence officer, troops from the synchronised operations from the 271 NAF Detachment in Birnin Gwari and the Nigerian Army FOB in Gwaska rescued dozens of kidnapped victims.

“The sum of N60,000,000 in cash, petroleum products and sophisticated weapons were recovered during the operations.

“Other items recovered by the troops from the suspects include vehicles, AK-47 rifles, magazines, various kinds of ammunition and mobile phones.

“Meanwhile, we will refer the case of the arrested couriers who mostly have identifications with security agencies to the Department of State Service (DSS) and Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for further investigation,” the intelligence officer was quoted as saying.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

Citizens in Kahiyal in Bugaje word of Jibia, Katsina State, have bravely stood up to bandits who invaded the village to collect tax from the innocent people. 

The Daily Reality gathered that two armed bandits came into the village in broad daylight, asking people to give them money. 

The villagers feigned to oblige but only for one of them to quickly grab the bandit’s rifle while dropping the money. Other locals, who also had their weapons, helped him.

A citizen, Professor Abdussamad Umar Jibia, narrated the incident on his Facebook wall.

He said the bandits “stayed in one place and asked the villagers to contribute money and bring it to them. 

“The villagers did that. However, unfortunately for the criminals, the person who brought the money dropped it and quickly grasped the boy holding the rifle. 

“Other villagers who were ready with their local weapons rushed on the criminals and finished them off as it should be,” he said.

Insecurity and banditry are the major security issues bedevilling the northwestern part of the country, leading to thousands of deaths while numerous others are forced to migrate.

The criminals impose unlawful taxes on countless farmers and others living in the affected areas.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has declared his interest to contest for the office of the president in the 2023 presidential polls. 

The declaration that came on the morning of Monday, April 11 2022 confirmed the speculation that Osinbajo wants to succeed his principal, Muhammadu Buhari, whose tenure officially ends in May 2023.

Osinbajo, who posted his declaration on his official Twitter handle, said:

“I am today, with utmost humility, formally declaring my intention to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the platform of APC.” 

In Osinbajo’s declaration speech, he also said he could relate to the suffering and challenges of Nigerians and hence why he wants to be president. 

“I’ve stood where you stand and sat where you sit. I know, and I understand our hopes, aspirations and fears from a place of relatable proximity; and I believe that in those hopes and aspirations are the seeds for the great Nigeria that we all desire. I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.” He stated.

Osinbajo will jostle for the ruling party’s ticket with other political heavyweights, like APC’s chieftain, Bola Ahmad Tinubu, and Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, who also declared their intention to run for the presidency on the platform of the party.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

President Muhammadu Buhari has been given a 72-hour deadline by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to rescind the decision to block the mobile connections of 72 million Nigerians.

SERAP tells the president to order the Minister of Communications, Isa Ali Pantami, and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to immediately revoke the seemingly unlawful decision to prevent over 72 million active telecommunication subscribers from making calls on their SIMs.

Recall that the Federal Government ‘directed’ telecoms firms this week to stop outgoing calls on all unlinked lines after the verification deadline passed on March 31.

Over 72 million users have been prevented from making calls as a result of the directive.

SERAP, on the other hand, said that prohibiting people from making calls constituted an infringement on their right to free expression.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

A non-governmental firm, Cynox IT Limited, has unveiled a 500 million US Dollar educational development intervention project aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Kano.

The Daily Reality gathered that the project would focus more on basic and secondary education. 

The project titled Education Strategic Investment and Development Initiative (ESIDI) is said to have also intervened in the areas of western, Islamiyyah and even Almajiri/Tsangaya schools.

It was reported that the project is in collaboration with the state’s ministry of education.

The Cynox Vice Chairman, Abdulrahman Abubakar Yabo, disclosed that the project came up as part of their attempt to address education challenges in entire northern Nigeria, starting with Kano.

He added that “Our ultimate goal is knowledge value revolution by increasing school enrolment in Kano and even training teachers.

“We are also working towards making students self-reliant after leaving school. The project will also focus more on Science, Technical, Engineering and Mathematics. We will collaborate with international tech giants such as Microsoft and Google in that aspect.

“Cynox is working in raising $500 million from local, national and international donor agencies, philanthropists and the host state (Kano) in raising the money.”

Yabo also explained that the Kano Government would provide 30 per cent of the amount.

Also speaking, Kano State Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Sanusi Sa’id Kiru, said the state had signed a memorandum of understanding with the firm. 

He said, “this will go a long way in complementing the state’s free and compulsory education.”