News

By Muhammad Sabiu

Police in Kaduna State have apprehended three suspects who were alleged to have abducted 136 of Bethel Baptist School, Kaduna.

The suspects were identified as Adamu Bello, Isiaku Lawal and Muazu Abubakar.

The trio told journalists in Abuja on Thursday, that 25 of them perpetrated the kidnap, and that their desperate need for money made them carry out the act.

“Twenty-five of us carried out the operation. We kidnapped 136 students and I got N100,000 share from the money (ransom),” one of the suspects was quoted as saying.

However, there is still no detailed information on how they carried out the kidnap and how they were eventually arrested.

The police paraded them in Abuja at the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has commissioned the newly constructed Kasuwan Magani Modern Market in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i said the Kaduna State Government partnered with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to deliver the project. He further stated that the Kaduna State Government’s post-conflict assessment after the October 2018 crisis in Kasuwan Magani included a resolve to address the question of markets.

In his remarks, Prof. Osinbajo commended the administration of Governor El-Rufa’i and reiterated that the Federal Government will keep supporting and encouraging investment-centric efforts by providing a stable business environment, providing infrastructure, and ensuring security.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

The 6th edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST) has commenced this morning in Kaduna with Governor Nasiru Ahmad, El-Rufa’i, Minister of Water Resources, Eng. Sulaiman Hussain Adamu, Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, among others, in attendance.

The theme of this year’s summit is “Towards a Knowledge-based Economy”. The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, SAN, will serve as Special Guest while His Highness, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, serves as the Guest Speaker. Other speakers will include Prof. Celestine Monga and Prof. Benedict Oyeh Oramah.

By Muhammad Sabiu

An angry mob have set ablaze the residence of Sokoto State Commissioner for Careers and Security Matters, Garba Moyi, in Isa Local Government Area.

According to reports, the incident, which occurred Monday evening, led to the vandalisation of vehicles of a traditional ruler who was also accused of abandoning his people.

ASP Sanusi Abubakar, the Sokoto Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who confirmed the incident, stated that“no life was involved, and as soon as the investigation is completed, the details will be made known to the public.”

He added that people of the area should remain calm and advised them to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace and order.

Also, a Sokoto resident, identified as Abubakar Isa, also confirmed the incident. He said the mob were angry at the Commissioner due to bandits’ incessant attacks.

He was quoted as saying, “Some of them even believe that the commissioner has abandoned his own people. The attacks are becoming rampant these days, despite the efforts they said they are making to address it. There is no day that a person is not kidnapped or killed in Isa or Sabon Birni.”

By Muhammad Sabiu

In what would be tagged as a great success in the fight against terrorism in the northwestern part of Nigeria, the police in Katsina State have successfully apprehended four persons for allegedly supplying fuel and one other for supplying bread to terrorists; also referred to as “bandits.”

Gambo Isa, Katsina State police spokesperson, told the press that the bread supplier, arrested on Saturday, was a national of Niger Republic.

The other suspects supplying fuel have been identified as Shafi’u Haruna, 25, of Anguwan Nakaba village in Sabuwa LGA; Sani Lawal, 28, of Magamar Jibia for transporting fuel in a Volkswagen Passat car with registration No. KMC 198 XB; and Abdulrashid Garba, 50, of Daddara village, Jibia LGA, for conveying fuel in his Volkswagen Golf III wagon with registration No. AR 719 KTN.

Mr Isa added, “Also arrested was Tigal Haruna, 57, of Kofar Guga Quarters, Katsina, conveying fuel in his Passat motor vehicle with registration number FC 977 LKJ. Nemesis caught up with the suspects when they were arrested long Katsina – Jibia road while going into the forest.

“In the course of investigation, suspects confessed to be selling the fuel at fringes of the forest, contrary to Executive order and other extant laws of the Federation. The investigation is ongoing,”

Recall that the Katsina State Government has issued an executive order banning some activities in the state in an effort to curtail the killings and kidnappings that have, over the years, beset the state.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Who could have thought that the lingering issue of street begging would still be persistent despite the imposition of an outright ban on begging by the state government? Likewise, who would believe that the state government will continue to be the captive of the past, allowing Almajiri parents to drop around their children for Qur’anic education without shelter, food or clothing?

This and many more have called into question the government’s effort to end street begging in the state.

Recalling the statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State, Abba Anwar, the Kano State Government announced the ban of street begging in the state. It said that the effort was to fully consolidate the free and compulsory primary and secondary schools education.

“The decision was meant to integrate the Almajiri system into the policy and address the lingering problem of street begging,” Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said in the statement. He further warned that Almajiri teachers must accept the newly introduced approach by the government and that “If Almijiri teacher thinks he cannot accept the new policy he has to leave the state. 

“When Almajiri are caught begging, it is not only that beggar is caught but also his parents or guardians. Such parents or guardians would be taken to court to face the wrath of the law,” the governor added.

The statement disclosed that the newly introduced system was meant to allow the beggars to continue their studies to secondary school and beyond.

But despite the declaration, promises and threats against beggars and their teachers, beggars are still on the state’s streets. They beg from car to car, tricycle to tricycle and from person to person freely and in the presence of security personnel.

Meanwhile, Almajiris in Kano were neither being thwarted from begging nor introduced to western education, as the governor promised.

One of the Almajiri teachers in the state who spoke with The Daily Reality said, “I had no idea of the new policy the state government introduced and no official of the government contacted him ok the policy.”

An educationalist, who prefers not to be named, opined that; “I believe this will definitely be a joyous and celebratory idea if the government could be able to implement the new system.

“But sometimes government plays politics, and I am afraid this might be one, considering the length of time since the assertion was made.” He observed.

Some beggars who were brought to the city from Minjibir explained to our reporter that they face no challenge from anyone. According to them, they move around freely in every nook and cranny, including Nassarawa GRA, where the Kano State Government House is situated.

“We are brought here for Qur’anic education from Minjibir Local Government. Our Tsangaya is situated at Rimin Kebe, Ungogo LGA, and we are not even aware of the ban on begging in the state.”

The lingering problem of street begging is known to anyone living in Kano and the North, or even the country as a whole. But it is worse than expected in the North. 

Kano State Government’s idea of banning street begging is an idea many residents applauded when launched. The ban was introduced to enable the Almajiri to acquire western education while undergoing their Qur’anic education. The ultimate goal was to empower them in society.

By Muhsin Ibrahim

Despite the police efforts and arrest of several suspects, the menace of phone snatching continues to cost the lives of Kano residents. The most recent incident occurred Sunday evening in Sharada quarters, around Nana Petroleum filling station.

Muhammad Sulaiman, alias Labbo, was a schoolteacher and farmer who got married in June this year. He was walking with his bride when the assailants stopped them.

As reports suggest, Muhammad did not show any resistance. However, the phone snatchers stabbed him, leaving him to bleed to death.

Our attempts to hear from the bereaved wife for further details proved difficult as she was still devastated. However, other friends and relatives described him as very cheerful, caring and God-fearing.

Muhammad, 37, was a graduate of Kano State Polytechnic. He also attended Government Technical College (GTC), Kano.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports coming from northwestern Nigeria have stated that angry people in a Sokoto community, Tangaza, took the bull by the horns, traced suspected bandits in detention and subsequently lynched them.

This is coming barely 12 hours after the bandits launched an attack on the community, which left two persons killed and two others abducted.

Premium Times reports that, first, it was vigilante members armed with locally-made guns and cutlasses in conjunction with the police that went after the bandits, killed two and apprehended about four others.

After their arrest, they were put behind the police net.

The state’s police spokesperson, Sanusi Abubakar, confirmed that in an attack meant to cart away foodstuffs from the community, the bandits launched a raid Friday night.

They were also said to have kidnapped two persons, who were later killed.

Angered by this attack and kidnap, youths in the community planned to join the police in an effort to crush the suspected bandits.

They followed them and successfully killed two and the other four arrested, who were detained in a police station and killed by the angry youths.

The youths insisted that the bandits must be killed, otherwise they would torch the police station.

A resident said, “The youths were angry and despite pleas from the DPO and the local government chairman, they insisted that if the policemen did not kill the bandits in their presence, they would burn down the police station.”

Sokoto State is also one of the northwestern states badly hit by the activities of bandits.

By Ibrahim Siraj

(Who is at Ingall, Agadez, Niger Republic)

Many Nigerians are attending this year’s ”Cure Saleé” festival at Ingall town, some one-hundred sixty kilometres Southwestern the ancient city of Agadez in the Niger Republic.

The three-day festival, which was declared open by President Bazoum, is officially billed to end today but may be extended to Sunday.

Cure Saleé is an annual event that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Touregs and Nomads, including camel and horse racing, music and dance. It draws attendance from across Niger Republic, Africa and the world. Also in attendance are traditional rulers from Niger, Nigeria and other neighbouring countries.

Started several centuries ago, the festival brings together various Tuareg clans and Wodaabe Nomads to celebrate the end of the rainy season and to mark the beginning of a movement down south to survive the upcoming dry season.

The salty waters of Ingall are believed to possess medicinal and healing powers that can cure all diseases afflicting humans and animals.

Cure Saleé also serves as a melting point for several social, business, tourism and friendship activities.

The 2021 well-attended event is coming after the Covid-19 lockdown forced the cancellation of the festival in 2020.

Attending the event from Nigeria are scholars, researchers, tourists, journalists, photographers and other business and media personalities.

Declaring the 2021 Cure Saleé open, President Mohamed Bazoum, who attended the festival for the first time since he became President, welcomed all guests and assured the organisers of his government’s continued support.

Speaking to The Daily Reality on this significance of the festival, a foremost Kano Palace historian and researcher, Malam Nasiru Wada, said Cure Saleé offers students of culture like himself the opportunity to learn how life is defined by people living in the desert and to appreciate the difference between Africa’s divergent cultures. He listed the economic advantages of the festival to include tourism, inflow and outflow of goods and services, as well as job opportunities.

Also speaking, a Kano-based documentary photographer, Muhammad Mubarak aka Moha Sheikh, said his coming to Ingall is a follow-up to his participation at similar cultural event, Bianou, in Agadez last year. He said the two festivals had afforded him the opportunity to see and document culture.

Another documentary photographer, Emmanuel Abor, from Abuja, said the festival is a celebration of cultural preservation in the technological age.

At the end of the festival, prizes will be distributed to winners of different categories of competitions.

Ten students of Bethel Baptist College, Kaduna, were released this evening. Two were sick and eight let go on the magnanimity of their kidnappers.

Details later.