Katsina State

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Reports from Katsina in northwest Nigeria indicate that bandits had attempted to sabotage elections in the state, in which one person was allegedly burned to death.

According to a report by Channels TV, the person who was set on fire was a member of the bandits who arrived to sow chaos.

The incident happened at a polling unit along the General Hospital Road in the Batsari Local Government District of Katsina State.

According to witnesses, a squad of security forces intercepted the suspected bandit and a member of his gang.

There was no more information about the incident when this report was filed.

By Aliyu Ya’u Baraje

I have consistently written against the greediness of Nigerian agricultural produce suppliers since the implementation of the cashless policy. I am now fully convinced that a typical Nigerian is potentially greedy and corrupt, especially when presented with the opportunity.

There is no doubt about the scarcity of Naira, which economics has taught is a characteristic of money. This scarcity has created hardships for Nigerians, particularly for rural dwellers whose voices are hardly heard. This is partly due to a lack of modern education, IT literacy, and little or complete absence of media coverage. When visited, rural areas now seem like mourning grounds, faces barely smile, just silence, and black faces.

As a farmer and rural dweller, I feel it’s my duty to bring to light the ongoing exploitation of local farmers by produce suppliers. These suppliers are taking advantage of the cashless policy to profit at the expense of farmers whose main source of income is selling produce or livestock.

The prices of produce and livestock have plummeted dramatically. For example, the price of maize per 100kg has fallen from 22,000 to 13,000, rice from 26,000 to 15,000, beans from 42,000 to 25,000, and soybeans from 32,000 to 18,000. This trend is also seen in other produce such as millet, groundnuts, sesame, sugarcane, yams and cassava.

Farmers are offered two prices, one for a cash-and-carry deal and another for bank transfers. Those who need cash are given the lowest price, while those who require a transfer receive an increase of about 3,000 to 4,000.

This exploitation is unacceptable, especially since prices of other commodities have skyrocketed. I stand against this mistreatment of farmers and the erosion of their livelihoods.

I am from the southern part of Katsina State, which includes the local government areas of Sabuwa, Dandume, Funtua, Faskari, Danja, Qafur, and Malumfashi. This region is renowned as an agricultural hub not only in Katsina State but throughout northern Nigeria. This is due to the fertile land and extensive use of industrial

fertilizers and manure. The local government areas are rivaled only by the Saminaka, and neighboring local government areas.

Those who are familiar with this region will attest to the fact that its inhabitants are engaged in farming activities, not just subsistence farming but also what could be described as mechanized farming. In this region, farmers producing hundreds of tons or thousands of bags of the listed produce can easily be found. If one is a resident of this region, he is either a farmer or from a farming family. Even those who have switched to other businesses or occupations, most of their extended families are still farmers.

Given this, it should not be surprising that the exploitation of farmers by suppliers is a source of concern for those in the region.

2) In today’s Nigeria, the prices of processed and refined commodities have risen dramatically, with some even doubling, tripling, or quadrupling. The price increase for some commodities is so significant that it’s difficult to describe. So, why are farmers the only target for this exploitation?

3) In southern Katsina State, farming is done on a large scale, making it more of a business. This leads to the excessive use of agricultural chemicals, the prices of which have skyrocketed multiple times. For example, NPK fertilizer is sold for 32,000 Naira, Urea is sold for 22,000 to 23,000 Naira, Moroccan OCP (mixed fertilizer) is sold for 15,000 to 17,000 Naira, and the locally made Dan-Buhari fertilizer made from Kankara Local Government is sold for 10,000 to 15,000 Naira. Given these high prices, it’s understandable why a farmer would not be happy with selling their produce for less than 15,000 Naira.

Moreover, the use of tractors and other heavy engines for farming activities such as harrowing, tilling, harvesting, and transportation requires diesel, which now costs over 900 Naira per liter. The use of small equipment for dry-season farming, mobilization, pesticides, and herbicide spraying also requires petroleum, which now costs between 350 and 400 Naira. The prices of other chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and preservatives have not only doubled but have tripled or even worse.

This means that when a farmer who needs cash takes their produce or livestock to local markets, they feel like they are being shortchanged or receiving only a fraction of what they spent months or years nurturing. As a result, many farmers go home feeling like they have been robbed and have nowhere to turn for help

4) I seek to draw public attention to the exploitation of farmers in Southern Katsina state. The rise in prices of agricultural chemicals and equipment, along with the exploitation of farmers by produce suppliers, have led to a situation where farmers are not able to make a fair profit from their hard work. I categorizes those who are happy with the situation into two groups: those who are exploiting the farmers for their own gain (like suppliers) and those who are not involved in farming and only care about purchasing cheaper produce for domestic consumption (the consumers).

5) It is unfortunate that the farmers who work hard to produce the commodities are being exploited by the suppliers, hoarders, and processing industries. The lack of government price control mechanisms, excessive taxes and restrictions on foreign goods, and competitors. The selling of finished products at high prices, even higher than those imported from other countries has shown that farmers are intentionally targeted. This creates a situation where the farmers receive low prices for their produce while the final products are sold at high prices, leaving the farmers with little profit and often feeling exploited. It is important to address this issue and find ways to support and protect the livelihoods of local farmers

6) The exploitation of farmers in Nigeria has become a major concern as they are being targeted by suppliers, hoarders, and companies. The prices of agricultural chemicals and equipment used in farming have skyrocketed, making it difficult for farmers to make a profit from their produce. The lack of government price control and foreign competition, as well as excessive tax charges, have added to the farmers’ burden. Despite the high prices of commodities, the owners of processing, refining and packaging factories have not reduced their prices (per kg from suppliers), and instead sell the finished products at exorbitant prices. This has made life in rural areas even tougher, as the local farmers are unable to compete with foreign imports and are being forced to sell their produce at low prices. The suppliers have also adopted a cashless policy, which has made it difficult for farmers in rural areas to receive payment for their produce. The lack of recognition of wired transfers and poor network and electricity coverage in rural areas has further complicated the situation.

It’s important for the government to consider all factors and individuals, including rural settlers, when making decisions on the cashless policy. The government should strive to ensure that all citizens have equal access to financial services, regardless of their location.

Aliyu Yau Baraje, Dandume Local government area Katsina. He can be reached via: aliyuyau900@gmail.com fb: Aliyu Baraje

By Uzair Adam Imam

People in Tumburkai, a community in Katsina state, have decried the rising level of insecurity ravaging the community in recent times.

Several attacks by bandits on the community have displaced many people and widowed an unidentified number of women.

The community members expressed worries on Thursday when a Kaduna-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Victims of Banditry Support Initiative, visited the area.

The Daily Reality gathered that, during the visit, the NGO distributed bags of rice, foodstuff and cash to women in the community and the neighbouring villages.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of Victims of Banditry Support Initiative, Malam. Abdullahi Usman said there is a need for society to support the needy, especially widows.

He was quoted as saying, “Although we don’t have much, we are not happy seeing those affected by bandit activities cannot feed. So out of the little God has given us, we intend to ensure the needy are also fed.”

He added that the NGO would continue to supply food items and cash to the widows.

“The NGO intends to continue giving food items and cash to the widows and others for the foreseeable future, and we are calling on the state and federal governments and wealthy individuals to pool their resources together in helping the widows,” he added.

By Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng

The unprecedented mammoth crowd that welcomed Atiku’s campaign entourage in almost every state they visited is shockingly mind-boggling. The recent one in Katsina, President Muhammad Buhari’s home state, speaks volumes and needs no further political argument that the opposition party has amicably conquered the heart and minds of the northern populace.

Most of the north-eastern electorates feel they now have ample opportunity to produce a president from the region after considering the clear development this has brought to the north-western parts of the country. It’s general knowledge that most of the Federal Government initiatives, such as National Social Investment Schemes, N-power, and other beneficial capital projects, under this current government were enjoyed mainly by in the north-western states. They are making it more developed in politics, infrastructure, and the economy.

The above issue is a welcome development because the region is considered core-north large and more densely populated than the northeastern parts.

But, the northeastern parts, for example, are yearning to produce the first-ever president from the region, which will undoubtedly pave the way for social, political, and infrastructural development. Thus, the hit helps curb the devastating effects of extreme poverty, and hardship occasioned by the Boko Haram Insurgency in some parts of the Borno and Yobe States. And communal, Farmers Herder’s clashes in Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe, and Bauchi States.

Unquestionably, whoever understands the psyche of a typical northerner must agree that it is difficult for one to reject Atiku despite the current circumstances in the country mindfully. Therefore, the northern populace that massively voted for Buhari in the previous elections unopposed should have no regrets about doing the same for the leading People democratic party’s candidate.

Besides, even the elites and the ruling party stalwart knows that are a shot of words on how to stop people, especially from the north, from voting for the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the upcoming general election. Thus, remain with no option but to beat around the bush, able to maintain their political positions and offices.

Atiku may win or lose the election, but undoubtedly, the staunch and unalloyed support Buhari previously enjoyed in the north will certainly be transferred to him and no other.

The northeastern people have never rejected Atiku Abubakar in Nigerian political history but chose Buhari ahead of him due to the political exigencies of the time.

Interestingly, the era of political manipulation has gone. As a result, an average Nigerian from the remote and urban centrist now has a proper knowledge of the game of politics. Consequently, it allowed individuals to amicably exercise their constitutional franchise by considering the most deserving candidate regardless of religion, region, or political party.

Above all, politics, they say, is a game of numbers and interest, and whoever wants to play it should imbibe the culture of flag-waving, unity in diversity, and national Integration.

Mubarak Shuaybu Shelleng writes from Yola.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

A 53 year old man who makes bulletproof charms for terrorists and criminals in Katsina State is now providing the police with further details on his operations.

SP Gambo Isah, the State PPRO, told reporters that the suspect lives along Maiduguri Road in the State’s Sabuwa Local Government Area.

He further stated that he was detained by the police in Katsina on Saturday, November 26, 2022, as a result of a tip-off.

The Daily Reality has learnt that terrorists and other criminals in the states of Zamfara, Kaduna, and Katsina are paid N60,000 per piece for the bulletproof charm.

As the suspect was taken into custody it was discovered that he was wearing four bulletproof charms covered in jackets.

By Muhammadu Sabiu

Parents of the 39 children who were kidnapped on Sunday by bandits while working on a farm in the Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State have begged the government to help rescue them.

The Mairuwa community, according to a source, suffered the most heinous damage during the bandits’ raid.

He noted that when they (the bandits) approached the farm, the terrorists began shooting intermittently.

The source was quoted to have said, “They demanded N3m from the owner for him to be able to harvest his produce, he gave them N1million as part payment and decided to begin the work before completing the money, but unfortunately the bandits did not accept that. In our village, Mairuwa, alone we have 33 among the victims including young ladies who are due for marriage.”

SP Gambo Isah, the Katsina police spokesman, assured that efforts were ongoing as to how the abductees would be rescued.

Meanwhile, the Daily Reality has obtained reports that showed six of abductees had regained freedom on Tuesday.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Unknown gunmen have attacked travellers along the Funtua-Dandume road, killed a commercial driver and abducted an unspecified number of people.

The attack occurred Sunday around 07:45 and involved travellers from both Funtua and Dandume who were kidnapped to an unknown destination.

A commercial car driver plying axis that spoke to Daily Trust, Bello Halilu, said he passed through the scene immediately after the incident.

He stated that “The incident happened at Kwanar Gamji around Hawan-Fulani. The bandits lay in ambush and opened fire at the moving vehicles, killing one driver and abducting an unspecified number of passengers. Some that escaped spent their night inside farms.

“Like yesterday (Sunday), some drivers manage to ply the route to cash in the booming economic activities in this harvest season,” he added.

Another driver, Malam Habibu, said, “When I ran into the bandits’ ambush, they already grounded one commercial vehicle and abducted its passengers; they shot at my car, a bullet struck me in the leg, but I managed to speed up for about two kilometres before I lost strength and parked. Police from the Dandume division later came and took me to the hospital,” he said.

By Muhammad Malumfashi 

As eloquent people often say, “All leaders after they leave the office are judged on their performance and failures.” So Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State cannot escape this assessment either.

Since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999, Katsina has never been so unlucky to have a wicked leader like Masari. People often talk about his incompetence when he was Speaker of the National Assembly. I thought that was the Nigerian’s usual outcry (body language), especially when someone they see as less qualified to govern them succeeds their kinsman. They don’t know that they foresaw the monster unleashed on the national progress and what might happen to our dear Katsina since the man started eyeing our governor’s seat.

The kind of policies exemplified by the Masari administration in Katsina have, perhaps by no small means, helped to cripple both the state’s education and economy. The Masari government has failed to show outstanding commitment to boosting the state’s economy and reviving the lost glory of education.

For example, in the economic sphere, take as a case examples a multi-billion naira project, the “Katsina Dubai International Market Project”, launched by the previous government of Barrister Ibrahim Shehu Shema. Unfortunately, the current Masari government abandoned it due to some political troubles. Likewise, the “Katsina Multi-billion Solar Project”, started by the late former President Yar’adua of blessed memory and a variety of significant projects Masari government inherited, doesn’t bother to complete.

Much less the siphoning off and wasting of local government funds because this government took six years to conduct local government elections, and it is evident to all that they used non-LG polls campaigning tactics against the previous government. Still, they overlooked them once they came to power and exercised their vested interest in government. Also, most of the infrastructures they built are counterfeits. Tell me six out of ten weren’t renovations, and they would claim to be spending more than it could have cost had it been a new project.

Nonetheless, education in Katsina state faces a significant setback without empathy as the relevant authorities cruelly assess the plight. Learning environments are decrepit, making them unfavourable for teachers and students. Go to any local government and see the poor state of learning environments with your naked eyes, despite the huge amount of money that has always been claimed to be spent tackling it. Promotion, recruitment, arrears, gratuity, salary payment in time and other entitlements to improve teachers’/staff welfare are neglected.

I have always wondered what an ungrateful person Masari is, someone who has told the world that he was raised as an orphan and mowed grass to feed himself or funded his education. I thought someone like him who went through these would have known the reality of life and taken public education seriously as his priority. Still, the kind of negligence he shows towards public education, even those born with silver spoons, could not have done that.

Based on the controversy surrounding his school qualifications, I am not surprised by the carefree attitude that a half-literate like him has towards education. After all, even the highly educated people in Nigeria today have not given education the highest priority. Just look at his questionable educational qualifications published by some of his supporters. They said he attended Kafur/Malumfashi Primary School, Government Secondary School, Funtua AWS Training School, Middlesex Polytechnic, London and Administrative Staff College, Badagary. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Water Quality Control and Management. He has taken various courses in and out of the country and earned a Post Graduate Diploma in Water Quality Control and Management from Middlesex Polytechnic, the UK, in 1982, etc.

Although someone might say that education is not a gauge of one’s dominance, to be honest, it is. Meanwhile, reading his interview with Eric Osagie (The Sun Reporter), he refuted some of the qualifications attributed to him: “Why should I advocate having anything I don’t possess?” It doesn’t sound that fascinating to me. He knows the kind of politics played in Nigeria.

Not to mention the fate of the state’s public higher education, which is now in decay. While other state governors are striving hard to find lasting solutions for their citizens to avoid excessive stagnation at home due to the ASUU strike, Masari still wanders in his sleep. He daydreams about what to do to fix problems with Katsina’s academic Staff union of the university so that the school can reopen. Students can resume classes and finish their hanging courses on time.

This administration also scores a capital distinction in breach of trust because it is no longer strange news for Katsina’s citizens to see a headline about missing money in the state’s accounts. Only in Katsina would you wake up and hear the shocking news of your life about missing funds. Instead, our government would simply go to the media and inform the public that this and that animal or theft swelled hundreds of millions by the unknown individual. 

Regarding security, Masari can’t even score zero because Katsina faces serious security challenges, so nowhere is safe! As clearly stated in the Nigerian constitution’s provision, any government’s primary responsibility is to protect its citizens’ life and property. Any government that has not done so has nothing to do in office. Yet, four or more villages in Katsina state are attacked daily, indicating a lack of leadership in the state’s security framework.

It is unfortunate that any government requires its people to defend themselves against bandit attacks. However, this clearly defines what kind of leader Masari is. How on earth would a sane leader urge his followers to take up arms and defend themselves against the enemies, and yet he remains in power, refusing to step down to allow anyone with the ability to be in command to take over?

Muhammad Malumfashi is a cynic essayist and can be reached via muhammadisyakumalumfashi@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Unknown gunmen trooped into Dutsinma town of Katsina State and abducted the relative of the state APC gubernatorial aspirant, Umar Tata.

Daily Trust reported that some of the victims were wedding guests and were kidnapped to unknown destination by the shooters.

Confirming the incident, a resident, who preferred anonymity, said, “We have just returned from the house where the incident happened, we commiserated with the families of the victims.

“It (banditry) is really becoming worrisome and we are appealing to the security agencies to rose to the occasion,” he added.

Speaking to journalists, also another resident stated that the bandits initially kidnapped nine people at Unguwar Kudu quarters of the town but three were later released.

He added, “First, they abandoned an elderly woman who could not trek, with a small boy who was continuously crying. Then when they went further.

“There was a time the bandits came to Dutsinma for four consecutive days and kidnapped people. The situation has become worse and we are really disturbed,” the source said.

The Daily Reality could not reach the Katsina State Police Spokesman, SP Gambo, for confirmation as all attempts turned fruitless.

By Uzair Adam Imam 

The Katsina State gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Dikko Umar Radda, has nominated Honorable Faruk Lawal Joɓe as his running mate. 

This is, however, coming after the former running mate earlier nominated, Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Musawa, voluntarily withdrew.

The Chairman of Gwagware Media Organization, Ahmed Abdulkadir, disclosed this in a statement signed Thursday, August 11th, 2022.

The statement read, “Alhaji Yusuf Aliyu Musawa withdrew from the race voluntarily after wide consultations with relevant stakeholders. 

“Faruk Lawal Joɓe is the current Commissioner, Budget Economic Planning in Katsina State. 

“You may recall that Faruk Lawal Joɓe, who hails from Ƙanƙara, in Funtua Senatorial District of Katsina State, also contested for Katsina State Governor but lost to Dr Dikko Umar Radda at the primary elections,” the statement added.