Kaduna State

By Safiyanu Ladan

The Kaduna state government has directed teachers in public schools to transit to four days working in a week, which the state adopted last year.

In line with the new arrangement, the teachers will now work from Monday to Thursday instead of Monday to Friday regular routine.

This development has generated a lot of condemnation across the state, as many people fear that it will further cripple the already fragile education system.

According to these critics, Governor El-Rufai had come up with stringent education policies ranging from competency tests for primary school teachers, which saw the sacking of thousands of primary school teachers, to the closure of schools due to the covid-19 pandemic and insecurity.

These aforementioned measures have invariably affected the impartation of knowledge and created a considerable gap that requires concerted effort to fill.

Staying at home during this period created an overwhelming experience for children and parents. It has also affected the way they learn. Having learnt that the future of their children’s education is at stake, parents were left with no other option than to hire private tutors for their wards, as the resumption date was still sketchy.

Noted for being a hub of intellectual activities in Northern Nigeria, the state has recently grappled with reduced access to classroom education due to those challenges.

And now, with this government’s directives of transiting the teacher’s working days to four in a week in place of the regular working days is tantamount to reducing the access to classrooms that has a far reached negative impacts on students.

Given the foregoing, the decision of the government to make teachers in public schools resort to four days working is ill-fated.

Safiyanu Ibrahim wrote from Kaduna via uncledoctor24@gmail.com.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

Lawrence Aklogado, a final year student of the Faculty of Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has launched a campaign to donate cardigans for Almajiri roaming the streets of Zaria in the harmattan cold.

Mr Aklogado launched the kind and caring campaign on Monday, January, 31 and tagged it as “One Almajiri, One Cardigan.”

In an interview with The Daily Reality, Mr Aklogado stated his reasons for the campaign.

“Zaria was 4° degrees sometime last week. I walk to lectures every morning by 7 o’clock and see two categories of people. The student, staff and workers all rolled up in thick clothing yet complaining of the cold and the Almajiris who are putting on thorn clothing and yet not complaining of the cold.

These guys are white from head to toe, some of them not even having footwear. I only imagined how this period is hard for them. So I sat down and thought of how I could help. I don’t have money to buy cardigans and share because, truly, I was broke, and I don’t want to start telling anyone to please donate money for the almajiri. So the idea came to tell people to donate a cardigan for the almajiri.”

I designed the flier and started sharing it. The response was huge on the first day. And I am glad.” Mr Aklogado said.

When asked further on his target, he said, “My target is 100 plus cardigans for the Almajiris, and I have gotten 25 thus far. I go from hostel to hostel, and the main challenge is most students have just a cardigan too, but I am not giving up though”

The campaigner has been applauded by many people for the thoughtful and kind gesture.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Three hundred eighty-seven (387) people were murdered in the communal clashes in Kauru and Zangon Kataf, according to Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

On Wednesday, he stated this at Agwatyap’s palace in Atak Njei, Zangon Kataf.

The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, who represented El-Rufa’i at a meeting with traditional, religious and community leaders at the palace of Agwatyap, urged the communities in Kauru and Zangon Kataf to stick to the law and avoid generalizations that exacerbate the security situation in the areas.

He further called on the communities in Kauru and Zangon Kataf to keep recourse to the law.

During an emergency meeting with traditional rulers, Aruwan, who was escorted to the conference by security chiefs, also stated that the counter-killings were unacceptable.

By MMuhammad Sabiu

Suspected bandits kidnapped an unknown number of traders from Birnin Gwari Local Government in Kaduna State on Wednesday.

According to a witness, the gunmen blocked the roadway between Birnin Gwari and Kaduna at Unguwar Yako bush, where the traders were taken.

According to the source, the abducted people were among dozens of people travelling on business from Birnin Gwari and nearby areas in Niger State to Kano.

The source was quoted as saying, “We were travelling in a convoy with security escorts but they (bandits) abducted those who moved ahead of the convoy, which made them easy preys for the bandits.“We came and met about four empty vehicles, while seeing the bandits moving into the forest with the captives.

The soldiers are tracing them, we are stranded at a dangerous spot in the forest (Unguwar Yako) while the security escorts are chasing to rescue the abducted traders.”

As of the time of filing this report, police in Kaduna have not released an official statement on the incident.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Troops in Kaduna State have reportedly neutralized bandits and foiled a planned attack on Fatika town of the state.

A release issued Monday, 10-1-2022 by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that five members of the militant group were killed in the process.

Aruwan Said that the troops who conducted clearance patrols in Giwa local government area received credible intelligence of terrorists’ movement.

However, he added that, “the troops then mobilised to Marke and Ruheya in response.”

“The outlaws were sighted and attempted to escape the advancing forces. The troops however cut off their escape route at Kwanan Bataro, and engaged them in a firefight, during which five of the terrorists were neutralized. The troops returned to base after clearing the area,” he stated.

The statement stated that governor Nasir El-Rufai expressed satisfaction at the operational feedback.

El-Rufai has also commended the troops for their proactive and sharp response to the intelligence received, encouraging them to keep up the intensity in the ongoing offensives against terrorists in the area.

By Safiyanu Ladan

The rape and subsequent murder of two female university students in 2020, one in Benin inside the church, and the other in Ogun at her father’s house, has generated tension and condemnation from Nigerians. Even President Muhammadu Buhari followed the story, condemned the brutal acts, and commiserated with the victims’ families.

In addition, the Inspector General of Police directed an investigation into the matter through the AIG in charge of the zone. He gave him a clear mandate of apprehending and prosecuting the culprits. It was later reported that the police made some arrests related to the incidents.

Given the current happenings and the rate at which such cases are being reported almost daily in our society and the lack of provision of a coherent and vibrant system that will deal ruthlessly with perpetrators to serve as a deterrent to others has aided its escalation. In a nutshell, it seems blatant criminal acts such as this have come to stay with us due to fragile security conditions.

The unprecedented rate of sexual molestation among males and females of low and high profiles, always targeting vulnerable children, is alarming. Unfortunately, the situation in Nigeria has been more problematic because numerous cases of incest have been reported recently. The majority of the victims are minors, mainly between a few months and 12 years old.

Recently, Kaduna State High Court sitting at Dogorawa Sabon Gari, Zaria, has convicted one Usman Shehu Bashir of Dogarawa area to death by hanging for raping two years, nine-months-old girl to death. Moreover, In Jigawa, 15 people have been arrested by the police for allegedly raping a 12-year-old girl for months.

Several cases of a father raping his daughter, uncle raping his niece, aunt raping her nephew, cousin raping his cousin and so on have been underreported out of the fear of stigma. However, the present reality is that children, most especially girls, are no longer safe around male folks no matter the relationship. The earlier we know this, the better.

It is time for parents/guardians to be more vigilant and watchful over their wards. However, if the father cannot be trusted, I don’t think anybody is left.

Safiyanu Ladan wrote from Zaria via uncledoctor24@gmail.com.

By Sumayyah Auwal Usman

The Kaduna State government said Tuesday that the ban on motorcycles (popularly known as “Okada”) for commercial or personal purposes is still in force.

The state’s Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that “the Kaduna State Government wishes to inform citizens that the ban on use of motorcycles (popularly known as “Okada”), for commercial or personal purposes, remains in place until further notice”.

He further stated, “the Kaduna State Government continues to empathize with citizens over difficulties which these measures may engender, and implores all residents to comply fully with these measures in the wider interest of general security”.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports from Kaduna State disclosed how the Nigeria Police Force stormed bandits’ camp on Friday.

The camp was said to have belonged to one Isiya, a notorious bandit, located in Sabon Birni forest of Igabi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

During the raid, one bandit was reported killed while two were arrested on December 31, 2021.

ASP Jalige Muhammed, the State Command’s Public Relations Officer, in a statement issued on Saturday, disclosed.

He said that the operation was carried out by the operatives of the state command in collaboration with the Force Intelligence Bureau and Special Tactical Squad of the Force Headquarters, Abuja and some local vigilantes.

The statement also added that nine kidnapped victims were rescued by the operatives that stormed the camp.

“The mission was cautiously and successfully executed which resulted in one bandit neutralized, while many others escaped with varying degrees of bullet wounds.

“Two suspects namely; Rabe Baushe and Badamasi Usman, were arrested and taken into custody for further investigation,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, eight of the nine rescued victims have now been reunited with their families immediately after undergoing a medical checkup at the Police medical facility and were profiled.