Katagun

By Mallam Musbahu Magayaki

On Thursday, 11 August 2022, my elder brother and I went to charitably donate a mini solar inverter under the auspices of Babayo Mustapha Charity Foundation, founded by Bello Mustapha (Kogunan Katagum), to a mosque behind “Gidan Babale”.

Patiently, we waited for a while before Mallam showed up in order to inform him of the donation we had brought about by this foundation aimed at helping the vulnerable, low-income, and most importantly, upgrading the true religion of Allah (Islam) by contributing to what is needed in rendering religious services based on the foundation’s economic status.

As Mallam came out of his house to attend to us, we sat faithfully before him and exchanged pleasantries, after which we briefed him of what had brought us there. After giving him all the details, he agreed to receive the package but insisted that he wanted to know the actual donor, to which we reluctantly replied that it was Bello Mustapha (Kogunan Katagum), the son of the late Alh. Babayo Mustapha.

Upon hearing that famous name, Babayo Mustapha, he asked us to sit down properly. He wanted to share a good testimony of the late Alh Babayo Mustapha’s acts, which he didn’t want to reveal to anyone, including his family and friends during his life.

Mallam starts by saying that the deceased provided the plot of land where that mosque was built. And he was the first religiously concerned individual who began laying the mosque’s foundation up to its completion. He extensively went on to state that there were several mosques within and outside Katagum built by the late Alh. Babayo Mustapha. But he didn’t want the mosque preservers to tell the general public that he was the person who built them.

Sincerely, Mallams’ words keep ringing in my ears, demonstrating what the late Alh. Babayo Mustapha left behind are seemingly following in their father’s footsteps by taking over from where he ceased. In the sense that they are fully committed to rendering all sorts of religious contributions in the likeness of their late father.

In conclusion, I pray for the late Alhaji Babayo Mustapha to have the highest place in Jannah for promoting his religion. And I would like to equally encourage those he left behind to continue stepping up their efforts in doing similar religious services as their father.

Mallam Musbahu Magayaki writes from Sabon Fegi, Azare.

By Mallam Musbahu Magayaki

On Monday, August 1, 2022, a community organisation known as Katagum Division Development Initiative (KDDI) launched one of its planned programs titled “Awareness on Drug Abuse” at Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State. Several inhabitants of Jama’are communities joined the KDDI youths during the campaign rally.

Jama’are NDLEA officers, local government representatives, Nigerian Red Cross representatives, and social welfare representatives participated in the event. The program was observed at Wabi Academy, major streets, market places, and the Emirs’ Palace.

The Emir, Alhaji Nuhu Ahmed Wabi Mni, was highly impressed with the organisation’s effort. He urged the people of the Katagum community to support the fight against drug abuse.

The organisation calls on the general public to join them in achieving their goals.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports reaching The Daily Reality have indicated an angry mob in Chinade town, Bauchi State’s Katagum Local Government Area, set fire to a suspected motorcycle thief.

According to a source in Chinade, the crime occurred on Sunday, and the suspect took the motorcycle from Hardawa Market in the state’s Misau LGA.

He said the suspect fled with the motorcycle but was apprehended and beaten to a pulp before being set ablaze in Chinade town.

Ahmed Wakil, a Superintendent of Police for the state police, confirmed the homicide in a statement and stated the investigation was still on.

“The Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Umar Mamman Sanda, has ordered a thorough investigation into the barbaric and dehumanising act of jungle justice meted out to the suspect by some irate youths in Chinade.

“While reacting to the ugly incident, the CP frowned on the action of the irate youths, who, instead of taking the suspect to the police for proper investigation and prosecution, mobbed him to death for allegedly stealing a motorcycle without any recourse to the law,” the statement of the police commissioner read.

Communities in Bauchi State State have for over a long time been badly affected by the activities of motorcycle thieves, who, in many cases, would gruesomely murder the owner of the bike before snatching it.

Considering what reports have indicated, the Bauchi metropolis could be the most affected place in the state with respect to such criminal acts.

By Mallam Musbahu Magayaki

It’s no longer news that the uncontrollable fire outbreak on Monday, March 21, 2022, in Azare central motor park consumed millions of Naira properties, and others were left casualties.

However, if you can vividly remember, on Friday, April 02, 2021, Katagum Local Government Area’s firefighting truck had a tragedy on its way to an emergency salvage. The occupants of the zone have been lamenting, on top of their voices, over the provision of an out-of-order firefighting truck. Sadly, their tears have not yet been wiped out by the governor.

Since our firefighting truck had an accident that resulted in its damage, the executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir, has been playing possum with incessant fire outbreaks.

Since the firefighting system was damaged nearly a year ago, many lives, particularly those of children and women, have been lost due to uncontrolled violent fire outbreaks on properties worth millions of naira.

The people of Katagum LGA and the entire constituents of Bauchi North are completely taken aback by the enigmatic silence of the government. They voted for the governor, expecting him to keep his mind on serving them from the bottom of his heart, regardless of region, tribe, or ethnicity.

We expect our governor to be that good listener leader. But, Governor Bala’s mysterious silence and the way he turns a blind ear to the constant fire outbreaks consuming the lives of innocent people of our LGA signal as if he is not an empathetic leader.

In conclusion, we, the people of Katagum LGA and the entire constituents of Bauchi North, are begging Allah (SWT), weeping and pleading with Him to make our governor empathise with us and wipe off our tears by providing a new firefighting truck for us, amin.

Mallam Musbahu Magayaki wrote from Sabon Fegi, Azare, Bauchi State. He can be reached via musbahumuhammad258@gmail.com

By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani

Let me draw the attention of the listening Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Muhammad, to the nail-biting hardships of Azare New Market, Katagum LGA, on the urgent need to construct rural roads in the said area for the economic development of the zone and beyond.

Azare is the Bauchi state’s second-largest city and is also the headquarters of the Katagum zone. It is bordered on the east by Damban LGA and Potiskum, Yobe state. On the south by Misau local government and Jama’are local government in the west; and on the north by Itas/Gadau LGA. All these towns rely heavily on the Azare market for their commercial activities. That’s why Azare economic viability is very significant, particularly in the state and northeast in general.

Remember that the former Central Market was destroyed by fire on June 18, 2018. This caused traders and business people to relocate to the new market built during the military administration of Theophilus Bamigboye. Though recently, the market was expanded, and new shops were erected with the donations made after the inferno of the old market. Unfortunately, this new market lacks a rural road that would facilitate the transfer of goods and farm produce from rural areas to markets with significant concentrations of demand.

Unfortunately, the fire that destroyed the ancient market spread due to a lack of access roads for fire engines. The lack of roadway pavement in the new market, God forbid, could exacerbate the situation. Also, the government should checkmate, as a matter of priority, new allocations of shop spaces by local government administration, particularly around the current access road, to avoid repeating previous mistakes.

The new market is situated off Kano road. However, lack of access road delays in conveying farm products and movement of people to acquire their daily demands. In the same vein, people find it very difficult, especially during the rainy seasons. Moreover, drainage and flooding cause severe hardships to the people. It looks like a pond, especially after rainfalls. 

Governor Bala has made infrastructural development a top priority without a doubt. This has transformed the narrative. Necessary infrastructures are essential for growth. As a result, we’re appealing to our state’s workaholic leader to come to the people’s rescue. Internal Revenue will perhaps increase due to this because the inflow of goods and services will be greater than before.

For Bauchi to become the envy of other states, good infrastructure must be put in place, which would, indeed, attract investors to inject their resources into the state. We’re all aware of how insecurity has drastically retarded development in the northeast. Thank God, Katagum and Bauchi are relatively peaceful, which made them a destination for economic activities. But, without good roads, the gains made, would be diminished.

Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Galadima Mahmoud Street, Kasuwar-Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.