Kaduna State

By Muhammad Sabiu

Some 28 out of the 121 kidnapped Bethel Baptist Secondary School students have on Sunday regained their freedom after being held for weeks in captivity.

Recall that the students were on July 8 abducted at their school premises in Chikum Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A report by Tribune newspaper has indicated that this development was confirmed by the Chairman of the Kaduna chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Joseph Hayab. He added that the students would be reunited with their families.

Although the abductors of the students demanded the sum of M60 million as ransom, it remains unknown whether or not the money was paid before the release of some of the students. Kidnapping and killings have become a quotidian threat in northwest Nigeria despite the efforts made by security agents to curb the problems.

The Esu Chikun, Chikun Chiefdom area of Kaduna State, His Royal Highness, Dr. Danjuma Barde, passed on this morning. The late monarch died at an Army 44 Reference Hospital in Kaduna after a short admission, according to palace sources.

In a condolence message, Governor Nasiru El-Rufai described late Dr. Barde as “a peacemaker who did not flinch from the challenges of modernity but who fully embraced the possibilities of diversity”.

Tributes and condolence messages have been pouring in nationwide over the death of the Chikun Chiefdom paramount ruler.

Ram sellers in Kaduna famous Zango Cattle Market on Monday decried low patronage barely 24 hours to the 2021 Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The ram sellers said that customers were not forthcoming, and their hope for a brisk business this year seems to have been dashed due to the poor state of the nation’s economy. According to some ram sellers, the situation has forced many of them to sell on credit.

A livestock dealer at the market, Malam Samaila, said that the ram business was not flourishing as before due to the economic and insecurity situations in the country.

Investigation reveals that a medium-size ram is sold at N40000 against its previous price of N25000, while a well-bred ram is sold for between N90000 and N150000. The prices of sheep and goats also indicate similar hikes as they are sold at N20,000 and N25000 against their previous prices of N15,000 and N10,000, respectively. 

Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended and paraded five suspects for their involvement in criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and culpable homicide in parts of Zaria and environs.

In an interview with the press, two suspects confessed that they’ve terrorising Maɗaci and Kofan Gayan areas. The five suspects are Tsalha, Lawali, Malam, Nuhu, and one other unnamed Fulani man. It has been confirmed that the suspects will be charged to court for prosecution.