Tag: Sokoto

Senator Accuses Military Of Abandoning Constituency In Sokoto

New Salary Scale Has Not Been Approved For Armed Forces – DHQ
A file photo of troops.

 

 

The lawmaker representing Sokoto East senatorial district, Senator Ibrahim Gobir, has accused the military of abandoning the people of his constituency in the time of distress.

He made the allegation during plenary on Tuesday at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

In his contribution to a motion raised by Senator Sabi Abdullahi, the lawmaker decried that the alleged abandonment of the people has exposed them to attacks by bandits.

Earlier, Senator Abdullahi in his motion drew the attention of the Senate to the activities of bandits in Niger State.

He had also called on the Federal Government to extend its ongoing military operations in Zamfara and Katsina States to flush out bandits in Niger State.

On his part, Senator Gobir criticised the military, saying many of the people in Sokoto have fled to the Niger Republic for safety.

He also accused the military of not responding to distress calls from the people when bandits attack their communities.

According to the lawmaker, the people of Sokoto have lost thousands of cattle worth N2.5 billion to attacks by bandits.

He added that the activities of the bandits have displaced about 5,000 people in Basira area along the border between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.

In their resolution, lawmakers in the Senate commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his proactive leadership and directives on security amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

They, however, appealed to him to direct the military to extend their operations to Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Sokoto, and other states where the bandits were attacking innocent citizens.

The Senate also resolved to ask the military authorities to increase their surveillance and track the bandits.

Banditry: Senate Asks Buhari To Extend Military Operations To Sokoto, Other States

A file photo of President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo: [email protected]

 

The Senate has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to extend the ongoing military operations against bandits to Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi and Zamfara States.

The lawmakers made the appeal on Tuesday during plenary at the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Senator Aliyu Abdullahi who sponsored the motion recalled that the Senate had on May 12, 2020, considered two separate motions, asking the Federal Government to immediately address the growing spate of banditry in Niger and Katsina States, respectively.

READ ALSO: Senate Seeks Establishment Of Food Reserve Agency To Avoid Emergency Crisis

Senator Sabi Abdullahi said the upper chamber was “aware through a Presidential Spokesman that President Muhammadu Buhari has authorised the commencement of a major military operation to sweep bandits and kidnappers out of Katsina State; as major proactive measures by Special Forces to replace the reactive strikes against the camps of these bandits and criminals”.

“The criminalities by these armed bandits and kidnappers are carried out mostly under the cover of the contagious forests reserves and areas stretching from Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger States with pockets of safe havens in Kebbi State”, he said.

The lawmaker added that “A major offensive in Katsina State alone is likely to make the armed bandits and kidnappers seek a safer haven in Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger states which hosts the Zurmi and Kamuku forests among others, further compounding the plight of hapless and poor communities along these forest corridors”.

According to him,  the massive operations in Zamfara and Kaduna states forced the armed bandits to seek safe haven elsewhere.

The Senate in its resolutions appealed to President Buhari to expand the scope of the operations to include Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger and Sokoto States and any other surrounding areas or States that the armed bandits may want to seek safe haven following the massive operation.

The upper chamber also called on the military and the police to increase their surveillance operations to the bandits.

 

Sokoto Govt Seeks FG’s Partnership In Fight Against COVID-19

 

The Sokoto State government is seeking to partner with the Federal Government on strategic ways to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Governor Aminu Tambuwal stated this on Monday when the Ministerial Taskforce Team visited the state.

Governor Tambuwal during the visit said that the state will continue to do its best in partnering with relevant stakeholders to defeat COVID-19.

He said that curbing the pandemic is still a work in progress while stressing that he is waiting for the report from the Ministerial Taskforce team on the best way to fight the virus.

READ ALSO: Presidency Assures Of Action Against Bandits In Katsina

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Ministerial Task Force Dr. Nasiru Sani Gwarz said the teams’ visit is in line with a directive by the Federal Ministry of Health.

He commended the state task force on COVID-19 but reiterated the need to have a strategic plan to fight the disease.

He also described as phenomenal the rapid response team saying that it is one of it’s kind in the country, where one political ward has an ambulance attached to it.

COVID-19: 41 Persons Discharged in Sokoto

Sokoto, usually referred to as Sokoto State to distinguish it from the city of Sokoto, is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River
Sokoto, usually referred to as Sokoto State to distinguish it from the city of Sokoto, is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River

 

Sokoto state government has announced the discharge of 41 COVID-19 patients from its Amanawa Isolation centre after they tested negative twice for the virus.

The State Commissioner for Health, Mohammed Ali Iname, revealed this to newsmen during a press briefing in Sokoto on Tuesday.

Iname, who is also Chairman of Sokoto’s COVID-19 taskforce, said 19 persons had earlier been discharged from the isolation centre.

According to the Commissioner, 13 persons have lost their lives to the virus in Sokoto.

He advised residents in the state not to stigmatize discharged patients saying coronavirus is not a death sentence.

According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Sokoto has recorded 106 COVID-19 cases, as of Monday evening.

Four Out Of 11 Travellers From Sokoto Test Positive For COVID-19

File Photo

 

Four out of the 11 travellers from Sokoto State en route Akure who were intercepted by the Oyo State Police at the weekend have tested positive to COVID-19.

The state’s incident manager, Dr Taiwo Ladipo disclosed this on Tuesday.

According to him, the four confirmed cases are currently being isolated at the Infectious Diseases Centre, Olodo.

A member of the COVID-19 task force, Prof. Temitope Alonge, also confirmed to Channels TV that the cases have been admitted at the Olodo Isolation Center for treatment.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state as of Tuesday stood at 39, with 28 active cases.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) announced that one more case had been discovered in the state.

So far, nine patients have been discharged, while two persons have died.

Police Intercept 11 Sokoto Travellers At Osun-Ibadan Boundary

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A file photo of a police patrol van.

 

 

Eleven travellers who contravened the inter-state travel ban have been intercepted by the Oyo State Police Command in an attempt to sneak into Akure, the Ondo State capital through Ibadan.

The travellers explained that they came from Sokoto to go back to their families in Akure, after more than four weeks of being stranded in Sokoto as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.

In his reaction, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said the travellers would not be released to the Sokoto State government until they undergo COVID-19 tests which had already begun.

READ ALSO: Nasarawa Assembly Member Dies Of COVID-19

Governor Makinde made the remark after receiving a briefing from the Commissioner of Police in Oyo, Sina Olukolu, at the Gbagi Police Station where the culprits were detained overnight in Ibadan, the state capital.

He said that the travellers were apprehended at the Asejire Dam axis of the Ibadan-Osun boundary, adding that they claimed that they were travelling from Sokoto en-route to Akure.

The governor insisted that the travellers would remain isolated until the results of their COVID-19 tests were received.

He said, “We are not able to explain how they got here in the first place because there is inter-state lockdown throughout the country.

“They claimed they came from Sokoto and they must have passed through so many states.”

Governor Makinde revealed that he has given directives to the effect that the travellers would be kept isolated in Ibadan until the results of their COVID-19 tests were received.

He, however, noted that he had contacted the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, saying the travellers would be sent back to Sokoto State afterwards.

The governor stressed that governors in the country were still discussing on how to enforce the inter-state lockdown throughout the country, to curtail the spread of coronavirus.

“It is a discussion going on with the rest governors in Nigeria because inter-state lockdown was put in place for a particular reason and what we have agreed to do is, in each individual state where you have inter-state motor parks, there must be on lockdown.

“If they are locked down, at least 80 to 85 per cent of our problems would have been solved. It is an ongoing discussion and I believe that will be the ultimate way to go,” he stated.

During an interrogation, the driver of the bus, Muritala Aliyu, said they passed through old roads and bushes from Sokoto to Niger and Kwara States and then got into Ogbomoso, from where they entered Ibadan.

He added that they were going to Akure “to reconcile with their family members”.

Members of the medical team of the COVID-19 Task Force were at the police station to administer COVID-19 tests on the travellers to determine their status.

COVID-19: Sokoto Begins Contact Tracing Of Index Case

 

Sokoto State COVID-19 Response Team has deployed medical experts to begin the tracing of all contacts associated with the index case discovered in the state.

Chairman of the Response team and State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Mohammed Inname revealed this during a briefing with newsmen in Sokoto, the state capital.

Iname assured that all those that have made contacts with the patient will be traced.

According to him, the state COVID-19 index case has been transferred to the isolation and treatment center situated in Amanawa, Dange Shuni Local Government and that patient is now stable and recovering.

He also said the state government is investigating the cause of transmission to the index patient infected by the coronavirus.

The Commissioner explained that the Response Team will begin active case test in the next 48hours, as part of strategy deploy to ensure that the general public did not suffer in this pandemic.

The state government also urged the general public to render valid information to ease the tracing task.

COVID-19: Rising Cases In Niger Republic Worry Sokoto Residents

 

Authorities and residents in Sokoto State have expressed worry over the rising cases of COVID-19 in West African countries especially neighbouring Niger Republic.

As at Monday, April 13, there are over 500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Niger Republic with 12 deaths recorded.

This has increased concerns in Sokoto State where seven of its local government areas share border with Niger Republic. More worrisome is the illegal entry routes from the country into Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Six More COVID-19 Patients Discharged In Lagos

Sokoto State special taskforce against the spread of COVID-19 however told Channels Television that they are ready to liase with the relevant security agencies to beef up security at the border posts to guide against the spread of the virus into the state.

Although, Sokoto State is yet to record any case of COVID-19 and there are no restrictions of movement within the state, stringent measures have been put in place by authorities to ensure proper hygiene.

The official border post are also shut due to the ongoing border drill operation with security agencies in control of movement in and out of the country.

Sokoto, Plateau Killings: Buhari Orders Army To Support Police

A file photo of soldiers travelling in a truck.

 

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Army to support the police and flush out bandits from forests around the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed this in a statement on Friday.

According to him, the President issued the directive to flush out bandits from forests, especially in the areas that witnessed recent attacks.

[READ ALSO] COVID-19: Four More Persons Discharged, Says Sanwo-Olu

Shehu explained that the President gave the directive in response to the killing of 22 people in Sokoto State, whose community was attacked by armed bandits.

He added that the order was also in response to the reported killing of 10 people in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“In a quick response, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, has already gotten in touch with the General Officers Commanding the army formations in the affected states, directing them to reinforce the police efforts to track the bandits and bring them to justice,” the statement said.

The President condoled with the governments and people of the two states, assuring Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Simon Lalong of the Federal Government’s support in bringing an end to the spate of attacks in the regions.

He also sympathised with the families and friends of the victims and prayed that Allah would comfort them.

COVID-19: Sokoto Calls Off Trade Fair Opening Ceremony

 

Sokoto state government has called off the opening ceremony of its 11th annual national trade fair.

The opening ceremony was scheduled for Wednesday and guests were already seated before the event was called off.

The decision was in line with the position of the federal government to cancel all public gatherings following the outbreak of COVID 19 across the globe.

READ ALSO: Katsina Records First Suspected Case Of Coronavirus

Addressing newsmen, Sokoto state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Bashir Gidado said the fair will continue only the ceremony that is cancelled

He said ” As you can see we are ready and very prepare because we have been preparing and are ready and people are here, but the governor of Sokoto Aminu Tambuwal decided to call off this activity just so that we avoid the spread of coronavirus.

He added that “any other public gathering that will bring people together in the state has also been cancelled.

According to him, the government apologises to the people and all participants at the fair regretting any inconvenience the action may cause.

INEC Publishes Credentials Of By-Election Candidates In Four States

A file photo of an INEC ad-hoc staff setting up a polling booth at a school.

 

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the credentials of the candidates participating in the forthcoming by-elections in four states.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced this in a statement on Saturday.

This comes two weeks ahead of the March 14 by-elections to be conducted in Niger, Kwara, Sokoto, and Jigawa States.

The by-elections are for Magama/Rijau (Niger) and Babura/Garki (Jigawa) federal constituencies, as well as Patigi (Kwara) and Kebbe (Sokoto) state constituencies.

A total of 10 political parties are expected to participate in the election.

The parties, according to INEC, are Accord, African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All People’s Party (APP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Action Congress (AAC), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

With the publication of the credentials INEC is urging any individual or group that has reasons to challenge the credibility of the submitted documents to do so.

“The commission wishes to draw attention to the provision of Section 31(5) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) which entitles “any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by a candidate in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false to file a suit at the Federal High Court, High Court of a state or FCT against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained I the affidavit is false,” said Okoye.

According to him, the commission is determined to conduct free and fair elections in accordance with extant laws while working with critical stakeholders to ensure the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

The national commissioner also appealed to all eligible voters in the respective constituencies to go out and exercise their franchise on the day of the elections.

Read the full statement below:

Sokoto Director Arraigned For Allegedly Issuing Fake Scholarship Letters

A file photo of Mohammad Yusuf.

 

 

A Deputy Director with the Sokoto State Scholarship Board (SSSB), Mohammad Yusuf, has been arraigned before the State High Court in Sokoto.

Yusuf was arraigned before Justice Muhammad Muhammad over alleged forgery on Thursday by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

He was charged with three counts for allegedly signing and issuing forged scholarship sponsorship letters to three students who used the same to secure entry visas to the United Kingdom from the British High Commission in Abuja.

The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

ICPC’s prosecution counsel, Mashkur Salisu, told the court that the accused, who is serving as the Deputy Director in charge of International Student Matters of the SSSB, deliberately made a false statement to an officer of the British High Commission through the misleading documents.

According to him, the offence also contravenes Section 25(1)(b) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

One of the counts read, “That you Muhammad Buhari Yusuf on or about the month of September 2018 or thereabouts in Sokoto within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to cause damage to the public forged a scholarship sponsorship letter of the Sokoto State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 348 and punishable under Section 349 of the Sokoto Penal Code of Law, 2019.”

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against him.

The defence counsels, Nuhu Aminu and Faruk Abdullahi, then prayed the court to grant bail to their client on liberal terms.

Counsel to ICPC did not object to the bail application.

He, however, urged that the court grant the bail with reasonable sureties that would ensure the attendance of the accused at his trial.

Justice Muhammad, thereafter, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 and a surety who must be on Grade Level 15 in the Sokoto State Civil Service with landed property.

He also adjourned the case until March 12 for the commencement of hearing.