Tag: Kaduna

Kaduna APC Governorship Aspirant Sha’aban Rejects Primary Election Result

APC gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna state, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Sha’aban

 

A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna state, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Sha’aban has rejected the  primary election result held on Thursday, alleging that the poll was fraught with irregularities.

The gubernatorial primary in the state was won by Senator Uba Sani who scored 1,149 votes, while Bashir Abubakar came second with 37 votes and Sha’aban was third with 10 votes.

Speaking during a press conference on Saturday in Kaduna State, Sha’aban dismissed the process.

He alleged that the election was a ‘charade’, as most of the delegates from the 23 local governments were locked out of the voting venue and denied the right to vote for  candidates of their choice.

READ ALSO: ‘Nigerians Are Waiting For Us:’ Bode George Optimistic Of Hitch-Free PDP Convention

“We followed the due process by complaining, we wrote letters, we made telephone calls, we made physical visitations hoping that the party leadership will stand to our calls, but as I am talking to you today, there wasn’t any response,” he said.

“APC in Kaduna is behaving as if it is the only party today in Kaduna State, as if there are other parties that are not even participating. We all know that one of the fundamental requirements by any party is to have a congress that is going to be free and fair.

“That congress will produce delegates that will elect candidates for various offices. Kaduna State never had that opportunity, privilege. Kaduna State has a ruling party in APC. If there is anything that has to be done, we should be able to be laying a good example – a good leadership.”

However, the returning officer from the APC headquarters, Anachuna Izu, said Senator Sani scored  the highest number of votes to emerge as the winner of the election.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which monitored the primary, described the exercise as free, fair and transparent.

Two Women, Five Girls Abducted By Bandits Regain Freedom In Kaduna

A map showing Kaduna, a state in Nigeria's North-Central region.
A map showing Kaduna, a state in Nigeria’s northwest region.

 

Two women and five girls earlier kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State have regained freedom, police authorities said on Wednesday.

The victims were rescued by operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command in the Kachia Local Government Area of the state.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed Jalige, confirmed the release to Channels Television via a statement.

He said the victims were abducted by the bandits in Mai Goro Village in Kachia on Sunday and taken to an unknown destination.

READ ALSO: Makinde, Uba, Others Win PDP Governorship Primaries

The command’s spokesman stated that the victims were found by police operatives during a routine patrol on Tuesday around the bush in Tsohon Gayan Village.

“The victims are identified as Godiya James, 30yrs; Beauty Mandela, 23yrs; Elizabeth Markus, 13yrs; Alheri Maichibi, 13yrs; Lydia Iliya, 6yrs; Bridget Obadiah, 4yrs; and Amama Hassan, 3yrs; all of Mai Goro Village, Kachia LGA,” he said.

They were said to have been immediately evacuated to the Toll Gate Divisional Police Headquarters, and when debriefed, they claimed to have escaped from captivity while the bandits guarding them were asleep.

Jalige said that all the rescued persons were stable but weak, adding that they have been profiled and taken to a medical facility for treatment with efforts ongoing to establish contact with their relations for proper handing over.

Train Attack: Relatives Cry Out As Terrorists Threaten To Kill Victims In Seven Days

Family members of the victims of the Kaduna train attack protesting the continued abduction of their relatives.

 

Family members of the Kaduna train attack have raised concern over threats by the terrorists to kill the victims if the Federal Government fails to yield to their demands after seven days.

The devastated relatives of the abductees said the terrorists have spoken to them directly, and are demanding the release of their eight children being held by the Federal Government in Adamawa State before they will release the 61 abducted train passengers.

 

They, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to order for the eight immediate release of the children to the terrorists so as to secure the release of their loved ones who have been in captivity for 59 days.

READ ALSO: [Borno Killings] We Are Investigating Incident, Says Army

They also said that the bandits released videos of the victims in their custody to prove to them that they are still alive.

 

The aggrieved relatives held a peaceful protest on Wednesday morning to continuously call on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward the rescue of the victims.

PDP Primary: Senator Baba-Ahmed Withdraws From Kaduna Governorship Race

PDP governorship aspirant in Kaduna State, Senator Yusuf Baba-Ahmed briefs journalists when he announces his withdrawal from the race on May 24, 2022.

 

Less than 24 hours to the governorship primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, one of the leading aspirants, Senator Yusuf Baba-Ahmed has withdrawn from the contest.

Addressing a news conference at his office in Kaduna, the former Senator who represented Kaduna North in the National Assembly, said credible first-hand reports about the primary are inconsistent with his political philosophy and his purpose of being into politics, hence the decision to drop his gubernatorial aspiration.

READ ALSO: At Least 12 Killed As Terrorists Attack Katsina Community

“In summary, the letter just advises the party of my humble withdrawal from the 2023 governorship contest of Kaduna State under our great party, the PDP.

“I have done so with all sense of responsibility and spirit of sportsmanship. I am not comfortable with the way we are going about bringing out aspirants and turning them into candidates. Any right-thinking politician knows that we are taking ourselves way back into the darkness.

“Many things are right not just with democracy. There are many don’ts in fixing Nigeria, those don’ts are not being followed. I am a very good sportsman, still a loyal member of the PDP. I have always belonged to the leading opposition in Nigeria since I joined politics.”

According to him, the emerging events from the party’s recent state and National Assembly primaries in Kaduna,  where money played a key role in the fate of aspirants have shown that the PDP  is yet to learn any lesson and also proved that an anticipated change in the nation’s politics is yet to come.

He, however, said that his withdrawal from the governorship primary will not deter him from remaining loyal and being supportive to the party.

Ansaru Terrorists Protecting, Indoctrinating Some Kaduna Communities – Community Leader


A community leader in Birnin Gwari LGA of Kaduna state Zubar Abdurra’uf has revealed how Ansaru terrorists have taken over some communities and are protecting the residents from attacks by armed bandits.

He made the assertions on Channels Television’s breakfast programme Sunrise Daily while speaking on the security situation in the North West state.

According to Abdurra’uf, who is also a former Head of Kaduna State Media Corporation, the terrorists ride on motorcycles in military uniforms across the communities and some of the locals feel secure having them around to help fight against those he called bandits in the UAC forest.

Abdurra’uf said: “If you look at Giwa and Birnin Gwari, the Ansaru presence is still there; nobody knows their motive. In some areas, the Ansaru are patrolling the roads and you’ll see them with their arms and even the military fatigues”

“If you go from Maganda in Birni Gwari LGA to old Birnin Gwari up to Funtua, you would see these people(terrorists)…”

READ ALSO: Kaduna Govt Mulls Plan To Clear Three Communities, Relocate Residents Along Highway

“The Ansaru is in charge on these roads and if they spot any armed bandit…any Fulani bandit they chase them away. That road is more secured than the Kaduna to Birnin Gwari Road because the Ansaru is in charge,” he said.

He listed the areas where they are prominent as the “eastern part of Birnin Gwari and some part of Giwa LGA notably in 6 wards Kidandan, Galadimawa, Katarge, Yaka Wada and to some extent Bangoya”.

When asked if the people are okay with the arrangement, he said the locals, who are being indoctrinated, are forced to choose between the two evils of the terrorists and bandits but they rather pick the terrorists who seem more friendly.

His comments are coming barely a week after Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, during a security briefing, raised the alarm that Boko Haram and Ansaru terrorists are now in forests across the state.

Also speaking during the presentation of the first quarter security report for 2022 to the state’s security council, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan said no fewer than 360 people have been killed by suspected terrorists in different parts of Kaduna State from January to April.

Kaduna Central Senatorial zone recorded the highest casualties with 214 deaths, the Commissioner said.

Aruwan explained that 1,389 people were kidnapped by bandits in different attacks across Kaduna State during the period under review, including the 62 victims of the March 28 attack on an Abuja-Kaduna train.

2023: Osinbajo Meets Kaduna Delegates Ahead Of Presidential Primary

A file photo of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

 

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has visited Kaduna State in continuation of his presidential campaign ahead of the All Progressive Congress (APC) primary.

Osinbajo arrived in the state on Sunday night where he met with the APC Adhoc delegates behind closed doors at the Murtala Mohammed Square.

He was accompanied by Governor Nasir El-Rufai and the Director-General of his campaign organisation Senator Kabiru Gaya among other top government officials.

READ ALSO: Insecurity In South East Politically-Motivated But Not Imported, Says Umahi

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Professor Osinbajo expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his discussion with the Kaduna APC Delegates.

The Vice President added that the delegates were impressed by his presentation in the areas of security, economy, and healthcare service delivery if he is elected as the next president of the country in 2023.

Kaduna Govt Mulls Plan To Clear Three Communities, Relocate Residents Along Highway

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

 

The Kaduna State Government has said that it will consider the option of either relocating residents or clearing the three communities along the Abuja-Kaduna highway due to incessant attacks by bandits and terrorists on travellers in that area.

The three communities are Rijana, Kateri and Akilibu, all in the Kagarko Local Government Area of the state.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who lamented that there are higher levels of informants and bandits in the areas, said the only answer is for security agencies to look at the options including the total clearance of the three communities and the relocation of the residents to safer places.

READ ALSO: Two Dead As Three-Storey Building Collapses In Lagos During Rainfall

“The first concern I see from this report is the continuous mention of Rijana, Kateri and Akilibu axis in all these crimes, particularly the safety or lack of it on the Abuja-Kaduna road,” he said.

“We have been exploring what to do on these three settlements, whether to relocate them to near Kagarko, whether to clear the entire settlement and I will like the Security Council to deliberate on this and let’s look at the options.”

He explained that intelligence information at his disposal has shown that some inhabitants of the communities serve as informants to bandits and terrorists,  and as such, has exacerbated the attacks on the Kaduna-Abuja highway.

El-Rufai added, “It is very clear that there are the higher levels of informants and criminals in these locations. Why is it that anytime there is an attack or kidnapping on the Abuja-Kaduna road, it happens along this three-axis and nothing ever happens on the Kagarko side?

“There is something wrong with these three settlements and the government should not refuse to do anything or fail to do anything. We have to look at options, including the clearance of the settlements completely and the relocation of the people to where other more honest people who can watch them.”

The governor also expressed concern over the dangerous role of drug peddling and intake in the rising insecurity in Kaduna state.

He, therefore, directed the security agencies to beam their searchlight on such persons with a view to bringing them to justice and cutting down the supply chain.

Bandits Attack Commuters Along Abuja-Kaduna Road, Abduct Several Travellers

Suspected terrorists abducted an unspecified number of traders travelling along the Kaduna- Birnin Gwari Road
A graphical illustration of gunmen.

 

Bandits have attacked commuters along the Abuja-Kaduna highway on Tuesday and abducted an unspecified number of travellers. 

The spokesman of the Kaduna Police Command Mohammed Jalige told Channels Television that the bandits had about 4: 20 pm blocked the Audu Ogbe portion of the Highway, near Katari village.

He said they intercepted some vehicles, and during the process, took some persons away to an unknown destination.

Jalige said the prompt response and arrival of security operatives attached to the highway, prevented the terrorists from abducting more travellers. The spokesman explained that the security operatives engaged the criminals in a gun duel and successfully repelled them from further attacks.

According to him, normalcy was immediately returned to the highway following the clearance operation, enabling motorists to continue their journey.
The incident comes almost two months after the deadly train attack by terrorists at Dutse forest in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Eight persons were killed,  26 injured, and 62 others taken away during the attack.

READ ALSO: FG Orders Resumption Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Service

The suspect.

 

Meanwhile, operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command have arrested a suspected bandit and gun runner in Zaria Local Government Area.

The police said the suspect, Rilwanu Abdullahi of Damari village in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, was sighted on Tuesday with a Volkswagen car in a suspicious manner around the Madachi area of Zaria city.

On sighting the police operatives, he attempted to escape but was chased and apprehended, the security agency added.

A search carried out on the Volkswagen vehicle with Reg.no KNC 816 XC led to the recovery of an AK47 Rifle with six hundred (600) rounds of 7.62 X 39mm live ammunition.

Upon further interrogation, the suspect led detectives to another location where an additional Volkswagen car with Reg.No AX 973 LGA was recovered with the live ammunition carefully concealed inside the fuel tank aimed at evading the eagle eyes of security operatives.

Catholic Priest Dies In Bandits’ Custody Two Months After Abduction

Reverend Father Joseph Bako was kidnapped by bandits in Kaduna State on March 8, 2022.

 

Mr Joseph Bako, a reverend father of the Catholic Church in Kaduna State who was kidnapped by bandits two months ago, has died in the custody of his abductors.

The victim reportedly spent eight weeks in captivity before his death.

Although the police authorities have yet to confirm the incident, the Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Reverend Father Christian Okewu Emanuel, disclosed this on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Terrorists Kidnap Catholic Priest, Kill Security Guard In Kaduna

According to the chancellor, Father Bako was ill before his abduction and the abductors did not allow him go with his drugs for proper medication.

In his reaction, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Reverend Matthew  Ndagoso, has sympathised with the family of the late clergymen over the incident.

He also commiserated with the entire Catholic community of St John Kudenda and assured them of his fraternal closeness and prayers.

Father Bako was kidnapped by bandits at his pastoral residence of Saint John’s Catholic Church, Kudenda in Chikun Local Government Area on March 8, 2022.

When I Become Next President, I Will End Insecurity In Kaduna – Saraki

 

Presidential Aspirant, Bukola Saraki pledges to fight insecurity if elected as Nigeria’s President.

 

A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that he would end insecurity in Kaduna when he becomes the next president of Nigeria.

Dr. Saraki stated this on Sunday when he met with PDP Delegates and Leaders in Kaduna State.

At the meeting, the former Senate President stressed that without security, communities cannot develop.

“This is why, when I met with the PDP Delegates and Leaders in Kaduna State today, I pledged that with their support, when I become the next President of Nigeria, I will end the insecurity in Kaduna, across the North West, and all-around Nigeria,” Saraki declared.

Saraki visits Kaduna, seeks support from residents.

 

He added that “once upon a time, people could safely drive, fly by plane, and take the train from Kaduna to other states. Today, with the insecurity around Kaduna, traveling to and from the state has become dangerous and quite tedious.

“Therefore, I will ensure that we deploy the latest tools, equipment, and technology to bring an end to banditry and terrorism across the nation.”

For Dr. Saraki, security is a major focus of his presidential campaign. Only recently, the former lawmaker condemned the Federal Government’s handling of the security situation in the country.

According to him, the inability to hold anyone accountable is responsible for the country’s continuous security challenges.

He emphasized that the nation at this moment does not have the luxury of sending just anybody to the Villa and as such, only one with proven competence such as himself deserves to take the reins to come 2023.

2023: El-Rufai, APC Stakeholders Endorse Senator Uba Sani As Consensus Candidate

A file photo of El-Rufai and Senator Sani Uba. Photo: ubasanius

 

Ahead of the forthcoming primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has thrown his support for the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Uba Sani, as the consensus candidate of the party in the 2023 general election.

The decision was taken at a stakeholders’ meeting of the party where the Governor asked them to rally around Senator Uba for the governorship seat.

This was disclosed by one of the governorship aspirants and El-Rufai’s former Chief of Staff, Sani  Abdullahi, in a statement in which he also announced his withdrawal from the race.

He said he has accepted the decision as God’s will and will not go contrary to it.

Abdullahi stated that he will abide by the directive of Governor El-Rufai and the party’s decision. According to him, he has been asked by the governor to obtain the form for the Kaduna Central Senatorial District,  a position currently occupied by Senator Uba Sani.

He, however, thanked Governor El-Rufai for his mentorship and unwavering support. Abdullahi assured him that he would continue to work for the success of the APC in all elections.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:

At a meeting on Wednesday, the Governor directed that we rally round Senator Uba Sani for the Governorship seat. He has asked that I pick up the form for the Senatorial seat for Kaduna Central.

While this outcome is not what we have planned or hoped for, we have accepted it as Allah SWT’s will who provides to whom he wishes, when he wishes. Therefore we have entrusted our future to Him and prayed the State and the Nation will have the best of leaders in 2023.

I remain grateful for Mallam’s mentorship and for your unwavering support, which I do not take for granted. I had earlier purchased the APC Governorship form but will be picking up the Senate form as directed inshaAllah.

I hope we can continue to work together for the success of the APC in all elections. Your support is not taken for granted and will always be remembered and appreciated.

Workers’ Day: Kaduna NLC Laments Incessant Kidnapping Of Members By Bandits

 

As Nigeria marks Workers’ Day, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Suleiman, on Sunday lamented that the productivity and safety of workers in the state have been largely affected by banditry and terrorism in different parts of the state.

Rural communities like Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Kaura, Zango Kataf,  Kauru, and Igabi local government areas of the state have become the hotbed for kidnapping,  with some of the victims killed in the process, while others paid ransom to secure their release.

Speaking to Channels Television in Kaduna, he called on the Federal Government to rise up to its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of citizens.

READ ALSO: Labour Day: Workers Hold Rallies, Advocate For Better Welfare

“Communities, which are rural, are really in a serious problem of insecurity. A good number of our members are there going about their businesses, and it is really causing a lot of issues to that,” he said.

“To mention of recent is the issue of attack in some communities in Giwa Local Government. In the evening around 4:00, bandits attacked more than four to five villages killing people, burning down their houses, and foodstuffs, and taking a good number of people as hostages.”

He explained that the security challenges in the state have largely affected the productivity of the workers and public services, as most of them serving in rural areas are now scared to go to work for fear of being kidnapped or killed by bandits.

The NLC chairman also asked both the federal and the Kaduna State governments to provide more security forces in the vulnerable communities where most of the workers live and work.

On the condition of workers in Kaduna State, Suleiman lamented the challenges of inflation which have affected the income of the Nigerian workers.

He added, “Statistics is showing that inflation in Nigeria is about 33.9 percent which is on the higher side and this is totally much on the workers. Even the minimum wage we are receiving in Kaduna State has been taken away by this issue of inflation.”