Kaduna – Channels Television

Bandits Kill 48, Raze Over 300 Houses In Kaduna In One Week

No fewer than 48 people have been killed and over 300 houses burnt down by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The gunmen were said to have carried out the coordinated attacks in a stretch of one week.

Speaking during a press conference on Thursday in Kaduna, the President of Atyap Development Association, Samuel Achie, said the coordinated attacks which lasted for some days in about 12 villages under the Chiefdom, left fewer than one thousand people displaced with several others injured.

“We need peace more than any other thing now and we are trusting God that peace is going to be restored in the land,” he said.

“We should see ourselves as brothers. A Fulani man is a brother to a Ita man, a Ita man is a brother to a Fulani man, a Hausa man is a brother to a Ita man. By the time we begin to see ourselves like that and begin to operate as brothers and sisters, no brother will want to take arms against his own brother.”

He appealed to both the government and security agencies to come to their aid and stop the carnage before the people are completely wiped out by the gunmen.

The affected communities are Kibori, Magamiya 1 and 2, Matei, Makarau, Ungwan Rohogo, Ungwan Jaba, Abuyap, Jankasa, Ma-gata, Warkan, Kachechere.

The marauding bandits also created a severe humanitarian crisis in the community.

Children, women and the aged are now displaced; those who have nowhere to go are taking refuge in this internally displaced person camp run by this clergyman.

The development forced Governor Nasir El-Rufai to call all stakeholders for a peace meeting on Friday at the Government House in Kaduna.

Speaking after the meeting, the Commander of the Operation Safe Haven, Major General Ibrahim Ali, said since his assumption as the Commander, he visited Zango Kataf to meet with the various representatives of the communities.

“We sat down, discussed and listened to their problems and we looked for ways of resolving the problems. Thankfully, some of the decisions we took are yielding fruitful results now and the governor felt it necessary to also call the stakeholders to come for another round of meeting so that better decisions that will sustain the peace will be taken,” he said.

While suing for peace and cooperation among the various communities, he said people should be tolerant in order to make progress.

Police Rescue Two Abducted Bethel Baptist School Students

A photo combination of a police station and someone carrying a gun

Two of the abducted students of Bethel Baptist Secondary school in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been rescued by police operatives.

They were rescued on Wednesday evening by police operatives in Rijanna area along the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

When contacted, the spokesman of the Kaduna state police command, Mohammed Jalige, told Channels Television that the two abducted students were have been taken to a police medical facility where they are currently undergoing medical examination.

121 students of Bethel Baptist secondary school in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state were abducted from their hotels by bandits on July 8.

Last week, the police rescued one of the students inside a forest, while two were rescued today, thereby bringing the number of those rescued to three.

Meanwhile, the bandits are demanding the sum of N60m as a ransom for the release of the kidnapped students.

Esu Chikun Dies, El-Rufai Mourns

The late Emir of Chikun, Danjuma Barde died in Kaduna State on July 21, 2021 after a brief illness.

The Traditional Ruler of Chikun Chiefdom in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Danjuma Barde is dead.

The first-class traditional ruler died in the early hours of Wednesday at the Nigerian Army Reference hospital in the Kaduna State capital after suffering from an undisclosed illness.

The late monarch was promoted to a first-class chief in 2018 by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who changed the name of his title from “Sa Gbagyi” to “Esu Chikun”.

El-Rufai: Esu Chikun Was A Peacemaker

In his condolence message, Governor Nasir El-Rufai described the late Esu Chikun, as a traditional leader who promoted peace and embraced the diversity that development and modernity had brought to his chiefdom.

El-Rufai, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, said the traditional Ruler was “a peacemaker who did not flinch from the challenges of modernity but who fully embraced the possibilities of diversity.”

“This accommodating and constructive attitude has brought immense socio-economic dividends to the people of Chikun Chiefdom which is host to many of the most significant investment projects the government has attracted to Kaduna State since 2015,” the governor was quoted as saying.

While eulogising the deceased, the governor said the state is “grateful for the positive attitude of the late Dr. Barde.”

He also prayed to God to grant him peaceful repose, to comfort his family and the entire Chikun Chiefdom.

Abductors Of Bethel Baptist School Students Demand N60m Ransom

A combination of file photos of the map of Kaduna State and a gun recovered from crime suspects.

The abductors of the 121 students of Bethel Baptist Secondary school in Kaduna State are demanding the sum of N60 million as ransom before they will release the students.

The father of one of the kidnapped students confirmed the development to Channels Television.

He added that the bandits have also given them till next week Monday as the deadline for payment of the ransom.

He disclosed that after much negotiations, the bandits pegged the sum of N500,000 as a ransom for each student before they will be released.

Bandits suspected to be kidnappers had on July 8 attacked Bethel Baptist Secondary school in Chikun Local Government Area of the state and abducted 121 students from their hostels.

Last week, they released one of the students who fell sick in their custody along with two other people who were kidnapped along the Kaduna-Kachia road.

They were later rescued inside the forest by operatives of the Kaduna state police command.

Former Emir Of Kano, Sanusi Leads Prayers In Kaduna

Muhammadu Sanusi leading prayers at Murtala Mohammed prayer ground in Kaduna on Tuesday, June 20, 2021.

Former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi on Tuesday led the Eid prayer at the Murtala Mohammed prayer ground in Kaduna metropolis.

The state Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Senator representing Kaduna central, Uba Sani, and other dignitaries were also at the prayers.

In his message, the former Emir of Kano called on Nigerians to continue to live in peace irrespective of their religious or ethnic differences so as to foster peace and unity in the country.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his address spoke on the importance of peaceful coexistence. He announced that more troops have been deployed to Kaduna State to help flush out bandits and other criminals in a bid to restore peace and security in the state.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai observes prayers at the Murtala Mohammed prayer ground on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

He, however, solicited prayers from the citizens to help tackle the myriads of challenges confronting the state.

The governor also in a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye urged Muslims to emulate the example of faith and sacrifice that Sallah symbolises.

The governor commended the resilience of citizens in these tough times and prayed for the blessings of Allah for the immense sacrifices that are being made.

He urged the Muslim community to keep hope alive and to celebrate Eid el-Kabir in compliance with public health guidelines prescribed to protect everyone from the very infectious Delta variant Covid-19 that is already circulating in some states in the country.

Bandits Kill One, Kidnap Seven in Kaduna Community

At least one person has been killed and seven others abducted by bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government area of Kaduna State.

Among the kidnap victims are three women and four men.

The incident according to police authorities occurred at Anguwar Gajere village under Kutemashi Ward of Birnin Gwari local government area on Saturday.

The bandits were said to have stormed the village on motorcycles, and immediately, started shooting sporadically and in the process, shot and killed one person, after which they whisked away the seven others to an unknown destination.

The bandits also rustled over 50 cows belonging to the locals from the same village.

This is the latest in series of attacks that have occurred in the state.

Last Tuesday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai lamented the spate of insecurity in the state.

According to him the level of insecurity has brought about major suffering for residents, which he regrets.

“As Governor of the state, it is a matter of profound regret for me that our considerable investments in security are yet to manifest in the defeat or the considerable degradation of the criminals,” the governor said.

He made the comments during the presentation of the Kaduna State Security Incidents Report for the Second Quarter of 2021.

According to report, there have been a total of 222 deaths, resulting from violent attacks, communal clashes and reprisals in the past year. while a total of 774 persons have been kidnapped.

With banditry and abductions now becoming the order of the day, President Muhammadu Buhari has yet again, reiterated his administration’s resolve to tackling all forms of insecurity in the country, vowing to deploy all resources to making the West African nation safe from threats.

‘‘In the circumstances, we must do everything within our power, without consideration of distractions, to put an end to their activities and bring them to book,” Buhari had told members of the National Assembly last week.

‘‘We cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from this objective, or waver in our commitment, and I am confident that together we will triumph in our present efforts.’’

Security Operatives Rescue One Bethel Baptist School Student, Two Others

File photo of security operatives in Kaduna State after a recent attack in the state.

One of the kidnapped students of Bethel Baptist Secondary school in the Chikun local government area of Kaduna state has been rescued, according to the police.

Gunmen had on July 5 stormed the school and whisked away 121 students to an unknown destination.

Five days after, the abductors demanded food items from their parents to enable them to feed the children, warning that failure to do so will expose the children to impending starvation.

Worried by the situation, the distraught parents of the abducted students held prayer sessions for the rescue of their children.

Mass school kidnappings have been rife in the north-western part of the country with the students of the Bethel Baptist High School, Kaduna being one of the latest victims.

Hundreds of students have been abducted since the beginning of the year by armed bandits, with many of such incidents occurring in the northwest zone.

‘Extremely exhausted’

The student rescued on Tuesday, Abraham Aniya, was found roaming inside a forest in Tshohon Gaya village in Chikun local government area along with two other kidnap victims, Zaharaddeen Ibrahim and Nura Nuhu.

Ibrahim and Nuhu had been abducted by bandits along the Kaduna-Kachia road.

According to a police statement signed by spokesperson Mohammed Jalige, they were found roaming the forest “extremely exhausted and weak” by police operatives and men of the Civilian JTF on routine patrol.

The police said the victims have been safely evacuated and rushed to a police clinic in the state capital, where they are currently being resuscitated, after which they will be handed over to their families.

It is not yet clear how the trio escaped from the bandits, but the police have promised to rescue more victims “within the shortest possible time.”

See the statement issued by the Kaduna State Police Command on the rescue of the abducted persons below:

KADUNA POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE
RESCUE OF THREE KIDNAPPED VICTIMS INCLUDING ONE STUDENT OF BETHEL BAPTIST SCHOOL ON 13TH JULY, 2021
The Kaduna Police Command’s mission to rescue all kidnap victims through intelligence-led Policing and the rigorous patrol had yesterday yielded a positive result with the rescue of three victims to safety.
On the 12th July 2021 at about 1540hrs the Operatives of the Command alongside Civilian JTF on routine rescue patrol around the forest of Tsohon Gaya village of Chikun LGA of Kaduna State stumbled on three kidnapped victims roaming the bush extremely exhausted and weak. The victims were safely evacuated and rushed to Police Clinic Kaduna where they are currently being resuscitated and will subsequently be handed over to their immediate families.
During the course of the investigation, the three (3) victims were identified as Zaharaddeen Ibrahim, Nura Nuhu that were kidnapped recently along Kaduna – Kachia Road and Abraham Aniya one of the students of Bethel Baptist Secondary School, Kujama that were kidnapped the previous week. Thus, the Command is currently relentless in ensuring that more victims are rescued within the shortest possible time.

ASP MOHAMMED JALIGE
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
KADUNA STATE COMMAND

Emir Of Kajuru Regains Freedom After One Night In Kidnappers’ Den

Kidnapped Emir of Kajuru, Alhassan Adamu, has regained his freedom, authorities confirmed to Channels Television on Monday.

He was released at about 5 pm, after spending a night in the custody of the bandits. Although the abductors had demanded a N200 million ransom, it is unclear if any money was paid for his release.

A top official of the Kajuru council area as well as the spokesman of the Kajuru Emirate council, Dahiru Abubakar confirmed the release of the 85-year-old traditional ruler to Channels Television.

He said Emir Adamu was released at an undisclosed location within Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna and is in good condition.

But 13 other members of his family who were kidnapped alongside the Emir are still in captivity.

The bandits had swooped on the Emir in the early hours of Sunday morning, just six days after the abduction of 121 students of Bethel Baptist school in neighboring Chikun Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the gunmen numbering over 200 stormed the emirate, firing gunshots, before proceeding to the Emir’s palace and taking him and 13 members of his family away.

Hours later, the bandits contacted the emirates and demanded a ransom of N200 million to facilitate the monarch’s release.

According to the spokesperson of the Kajuru Emirate Council, the bandits also gave assurances that all the victims are in good condition and were not being molested.

Govt Insists On No Ransom

A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

Kaduna State has seen a spike in mass abductions with bandits equally having a field day in the northwestern state.

The abduction of the monarch was the latest in the kidnapping of high-profile personalities in the state.

Despite the heightening crime rate in the state, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has vowed not to negotiate with and pay ransom to abductors, threatening to sanction anyone who follow such path.

“We have a feeling that the renewed attacks in Kaduna are not unconnected to the position that we have taken as a government that we will not negotiate with criminals,” the governor said in April.

“We will not give them any money and they will not make any profit from Kaduna; anyone that comes to Kaduna will not get a penny from the state government, except he will get a bullet instead.”

Abductors of Emir of Kajuru Demand N200 Million Ransom

A ransom of N200 million ransom has been demanded for the release of the Emir of Kajuru, Alhassan Adamu.

The monarch was kidnapped by bandits in the wee hours of Sunday along with 13 of his family members, including two grandchildren.

News of the ransom demand was disclosed by spokesperson of the Kajuru Emirate Council, Dahiru Abubakar on Monday.

According to Mr Abubakar, the bandits also gave assurances that all the victims are in good condition and were not being molested.

He said the council is still appealing to the bandits to release the 85-year-old monarch and his relatives unconditionally, especially giving his fragile health condition.

Meanwhile, one bandit was reportedly killed and some others injured in a shootout with soldiers during the attack on Emir’s palace, according to security sources in the local government.

The sources said the bandits, during the operation, divided themselves into two, with one group engaging the soldiers in a gun battle, while the other group moved into the palace, and later took the Emir and 14 others away into the forest.

Numbering over 200, the bandits arrived at the community on motorcycles in the early hours of Sunday morning through a nearby forest that stretches the Kaduna-Abuja highway in Kachia local government area, and started shooting sporadically, before they were engaged by soldiers that were deployed to the area.

Kajuru Emir’s Abduction Is A Joke Taken Too Far, Says Kaduna Speaker

The Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani has described the early Sunday morning abduction of the Emir of Kajuru, Adamu Kajuru and 10 others as a joke taken too far.

He expressed this in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, dated July 11, made available to newsmen in Kaduna.

“The news of the abduction of the Emir of Kajuru, Adamu Kajuru, and 10 persons said to be members of his family is a joke taken too far and stands condemnable,” he said.

“Traditional leaders play a key role in ensuring peaceful coexistence and stability of our society, hence the abductors are out to destabilise our society.”

Zailani said that In view of his important role in the society, security personnel should track the abductors and ensure all hostages are freed unharmed.

He added, “I appeal for calm from all concerned at this point in time, assuring that our security agencies will act swiftly to ensure their safe return.”

Bandits had in the early hours of today stormed the Kajuru Emirate and whisked the Emir and 13 of his family members, including two of his grandchildren in the Kajuru Local Government Area.

The latest incident comes just six days after the abduction of 121 students of Bethel Baptist School in neighbouring Chikun Local Government Area.

It was gathered that the bandits numbering over 200 stormed the emirate, firing gunshots, before proceeding to the Emir’s palace and taking him and 13 members of his family away.

Three women, two of his grandchildren, three of his aides and five others were abducted.

COAS Visits, Assures Wounded Soldiers In Kaduna Of Proper Care

The Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Farouk Yahaya addresses reporters in Kaduna State on July 11, 2021.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has visited wounded troops recuperating at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna State.

The soldiers were wounded in action at the various theatres of operation in the northeast while fighting the Boko Haram insurgents.

While at the hospital, the Army Chief interacted with the wounded soldiers and assured them of proper medical care and welfare, adding that their medical care is of utmost importance to him.

Speaking to reporters, the Army Chief promised to make the welfare of troops in the front line his top priority, even as he assured them of adequate medicare and support in the ongoing counter-insurgency operations.

“What brought me here first is to see our patients and appreciate them and relate with them, those of them who have sustained various degrees of injuries from the theatre of Operation Hadin Kai and other theatres and to assure them of our commitment to give them the best of treatment,” he said.

“I was pleased with the morale that I saw and the level of treatment being offered by the hospital. For those that require other services that are not here, we are also making efforts to ensure that we get these services.

“Some were constrained in this COVID that have imposed some restrictions on our movements. But we are gradually sorting them out and now all our patients we are adequately treated.”

He also reiterated his commitment to tackling banditry, insurgency and other security challenges in the country, stressing that logistics will be provided for troops involved in different military operations.

The Army chief also commended the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the military.

Kaduna State Govt Seals Four Fidelity Bank Branches Over N43.3m Tax Liabilities

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service has sealed four branches of Fidelity Bank in the state for tax Liabilities amounting to N43.3 million.

The branches are located at Ali Akilu Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, Polytechnic Road by Maimuna Gwarzo Junction, and Kachia Road, all in Kaduna metropolis.

The Executive Chairman of the Revenue service, Zaid Abubakar, said the bank’s branches were closed based on a court order after the bank refused to settle outstanding tax returns of N43.3 million owed the state government from 2011 to 2020.

According to her, the action taken against the bank is in line with Section (3) and (4) of the personal income tax Amendment Act 2011 and Section 37 (3l and (4) of Kaduna state Tax Codification And Consolidation Law, 2020 as amended.

She said the management of the bank was served with notices of the tax assessment five times, but the notices were ignored.

The move is part of efforts by the state government to encourage voluntary settlement of all tax liabilities by taxpayers.

Fidelity Bank and the bank’s regulatory body, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have not reacted to the incident as of the time of this report.

Tag: Kaduna