news

Kastina State

Followers

Showing posts with label Kastina State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kastina State. Show all posts

NIGERIAN ARMY: TROOPS NEUTRALIZE NOTORIOUS TERRORISTS' SECOND IN COMMAND, CLEAR TERRORISTS' ENCLAVES IN KATSINA

NIGERIAN ARMY: TROOPS NEUTRALIZE NOTORIOUS TERRORISTS' SECOND IN COMMAND, CLEAR TERRORISTS' ENCLAVES IN KATSINA


Nigerian Army troops have neutralized a notorious terrorist leader,  Maikusa, who is identified to be the second-in-command in the hierarchy of the terrorists' cell in Katsina state, led by the infamous terrorist known as Modi Modi. Troops gunned down Maikusa and three other terrorists in a shootout on Monday 4 March 2024, during a counter insurgency operation in Kurfi and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State.The ferocious operation also resulted in the successful clearance of terrorists' enclaves in these areas.


During the operation, troops encountered vehement resistance from the violent extremists, but gallantly overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower neutralizing some while others fled in disarray. 


After the firefight, the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 65 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, a locally fabricated gun and camouflage uniform. 


In continuation of the clearance operations, troops also destroyed terrorists' camps in  Wurma, Shaiskawa, Yauni, and Dogon Marke villages in Kurfi LGA, as well as Ummadau and Zakka villages in Safana LGA. 


The troops have continued to maintain an aggressive posture in the general area to clear remnants of the terrorists cell to ensure safety and security in the region.










ONYEMA NWACHUKWU 

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

5 March 2024


Nigerian Army troops have neutralized a notorious terrorist leader,  Maikusa, who is identified to be the second-in-command in the hierarchy of the terrorists' cell in Katsina state, led by the infamous terrorist known as Modi Modi. Troops gunned down Maikusa and three other terrorists in a shootout on Monday 4 March 2024, during a counter insurgency operation in Kurfi and Safana Local Government Areas of Katsina State.The ferocious operation also resulted in the successful clearance of terrorists' enclaves in these areas.


During the operation, troops encountered vehement resistance from the violent extremists, but gallantly overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower neutralizing some while others fled in disarray. 


After the firefight, the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 65 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, a locally fabricated gun and camouflage uniform. 


In continuation of the clearance operations, troops also destroyed terrorists' camps in  Wurma, Shaiskawa, Yauni, and Dogon Marke villages in Kurfi LGA, as well as Ummadau and Zakka villages in Safana LGA. 


The troops have continued to maintain an aggressive posture in the general area to clear remnants of the terrorists cell to ensure safety and security in the region.










ONYEMA NWACHUKWU 

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

5 March 2024

ONE KIDNAPPING TOO MANY! - OKEGBOLA

ONE KIDNAPPING TOO MANY! - OKEGBOLA


Let me first express my joy for the return of the students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state, alive and in one piece. These boys were kidnapped exactly a week ago from their boarding school. After a headcount, and the back and forth on the actual number of students missing, about 333 were finally confirmed by the Governor of Katsina state, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari. On return, 344 was mentioned. Garba Shehu has apologised for giving such a ridiculous number as 10.


The incident happened some hours after the arrival of the president in Katsina state, who is on one-week private visit to his home town, Daura, in the same state. Many saw the incident as an afront to the president, who is the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief Security Officer of the country, whose first constitutional responsibility is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens. Those who did that must have done so for strategic reason to make the president look bad. And they succeeded.


For the past one week, all kinds of verbal "missiles" have been thrown at the president and his administration. Series of events were organised to show the anger of Nigerians against his handling of the security matters in the country as a whole, and particularly in the north, which has been more at the receiving end. But, can the critics be blamed? No, ofcourse. Only an insensitive, inhumane and irresponsible person will be nonchalant about all that's going on in the country now.


Against my resolve some months ago, I found myself writing about the challenges of insecurities in Nigeria, and in the north specifically, in the past three weeks. The situation is akin to what the Yorubas will call; "egbinrin ote, bi a se n pakan, nikan nu ruwe" (the shoot of conspiracy, as we nip one, another sprouts). I am overwhelmed by the shear magnitude, frequency and the brutality of the attacks these days. Many lives have been lost to them.


The events of the past week overshadowed and dented the 78th birthday celebration of our President Muhammadu Buhari. The day was 17th of December. There was no chance for merriment given the circumstances we are in. I am using this opportunity to wish him happy birthday. Long life in good health (he already has prosperity, no need disturbing God about that again). Such occasion should be used to reflect on his life, living and the legacy he would like to leave behind after his tenure and after his sojourn on the mother earth.


The situation at this time didn't permit me to write about him personally, something I did in the past three years on every Saturday that followed his birthday. I usually used the opportunity of that day to x-ray few things about him, his personality, his government and performances. But today, the situation is sobering.


As at today, it is now 2441 days that Chibok girls were abducted from their hostel on April 14, 2014 in Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, while preparing to write their WAEC in May/June 2014. Nigeria was never the same again. This was during the previous administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. When it happened, it was unbelievable to the extent that the FG denied it happened. This unfortunately slowed down immediate response to rescue them until they have gone far and it was too late. It was novel to us in Nigeria at the time.


The back and forth of that time was nauseating. The blame game, accusations and counter-accusations that followed made a mess of the whole incident. The various accusations of politicisation of it, the misinformation, sabotage, conspiracy, the many unanswered questions till date, the many issues that were shrouded in secrecy, and so on. The girls were the people who suffered for all of that. The government mishandled it.


So, one could imagine the fear and agony when the news of another mass kidnapping broke last Saturday. It was devastating. And to say we were still recovering from the massacre of 43 farmers in Zabambari, who were slaughtered by boko haram. That was shattering.


On Thursday afternoon, I was quick to spread the "good news" of the release of the boys immediately I got that from my publisher, one I always trust and rely on his sources and news. I was overexcited, knowing what evil must have passed over the boys if the news were to be true. Unfortunately, my celebration was cut short will another news of rebuttal by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, from whose Twitter handle many got the news also. She claimed her account was hacked. I had to forward that rebuttal as well to all the platforms I earlier shared the "good news". My heart was broken into pieces.


As if that was not enough, many of my friends on social media who saw my first post were very quick to criticise me for spreading "fake news" even if it was good. That actually came from our history. Many of them, as I often wrote in the past, are either APC members, "Buharists" (loyalists and supporters of President Buhari) or those who have sympathy for him and the current administration. So, it was an opportunity to hit back at me as they have always seen me as an "enemy" because of my critical analysis of this administration's performances in the past few years.


I took responsibility for my post with the explanation that fell more on deaf ears. However, as God would have it, the news turned out to be true. My joy was double bound. After confirmation the second time, I had to wait for more visual evidences before posting again. And as a believer in God, I "forgave" my earlier transducers who also tried to justify their actions against me (lol). "Ti a o ba gbagbe oro ana, a o ni reni ba sere (it's in forgiveness that relationships blossom).


All that were really inconsequential to me. The joy that the boys were back overshadowed any misgivings. This is one thing I commend the government under the leadership of President Buhari for and all the efforts put in it by the Katsina state governor. They did very well. Those six days were traumatising to the parents of these kids. I knew because I followed the incident keenly. Katsina was under my jurisdiction while I worked in the north for about 10 years.


I know the Kankara village. I passed there on my way from and to Kano, Dutsinma, Funtua, etc. countless times. I hope people can now understand my attachment. Katsina was naturally a relatively more peaceful state in the north, even at the height of the boko haram attacks. How it became such a hot bed of criminals still baffles me. I don't want to join in different conspiratorial analysis that followed the abduction and release. I am simply happy that the kids are back.


This is similar to what happened in Dapchi nearly three years ago. Abduction and latter released soon after. That still has its scar on us all as one girl, Leah Sharibu is still in captivity, just like over 100 Chibok girls who have not been released till date, in spite of all the government's efforts. It’s true that one of the waves that President Buhari and APC rode to power was that of Chibok girls and general insecurities.


In 2014, #BringBackOurGirls went viral. It became a global movement, triggered by a group with the same name in Nigeria. They were nightmare to Jonathan and his government. The conveners were Dr. Oby Ezekwezili, Ayesha Yesufu and some others. Some people in the present administration were part of the movement. The people in power today, took advantage of the potency of that movement to damage (literally) Jonathan and his government. He was denigrated, called all kinds of names. People were sold their alternative, which included securing the nation, ending boko haram and bringing back all the Chibok girls in record time. But here we are. The chickens have come home to roost.


Not only that boko haram has not been defeated and that many Chibok girls are still in captivity, the general security across the country has collapsed, unlike in the past when boko haram was the biggest security challenge. Now, roads have become death traps as they have been taken over by kidnappers. Farms are killing fields as they have been colonised by bandits. Many communities have become ghost towns since people ran away and abandoned their ancestral homes for fear of being killed. "Iku t'onpa ojugba eni, owe lo npa fun ni" (to be forewarned, is to be foreharmed).


Nowhere is safe now. Nobody feels safe. But, we cannot give up on our country. Emir of Kaura Namoda of Zamfara state escaped by the whimsical on Thursday night, from being killed on Zaira-Funtua road. Eight others in his entourage were not that lucky. They were killed by bandits who attacked their convoy. Another Emir was kidnapped from inside the mosque in Kogi while he went for morning prayer yesterday.


What is really going on? The situation has become hydra-headed. For years, there have been calls for the rejigging of the national security architecture and breathing of fresh air into the leadership of security agencies, but all that fell on deaf ears. The president has the prerogative of appointing and sacking them but he didn't do anything. May be he knows what the rest of Nigerians don't know, because, even the national assembly's call was never heeded.


Then, one wonders who benefits from these insecurities when events that happened this week is considered. On Monday, the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) organised a meeting in Arewa House, Kaduna, to discuss the problem of the insecurities in the north, a welcome development. But what happened? There was an invasion of the venue by arms-bearing thugs and hoodlooms who attacked them, scattered the gathering, broke cars and other facilities, many invitees and dignitaries scampered for safety. Many were wounded. Who sponsored them? What was the motive? How does one explain an attack by "potential" victims of insecurities on the people who tried to profer solutions to their problems? What's really going on?


Why has the federal government not been able to nab the financiers and sponsors of the terrorists and bandits all these years despite having the helicopter view of financial transactions and movements of funds through the CBN and other regulatory agencies? Afterall, it took the CBN only few days to track those accused of financing the #EndSARS peaceful protesters and froze their accounts. Or is it a matter of interests and priorities?


In similar scenario, it took the government of UAE to identify and arrest some sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria. Before, during and after, we did not hear any action from the government of Nigeria, CBN or other agencies. These are concerns among many. How do we move forward from here?


What I believe is missing in all of this is sincerity of purpose. The people saddled with the responsibilities of protecting lives and properties are not completely sincere in their handling of the issue. This is why there are always accusations and allegations of complicity in crimes, corruption in security funding and rebuilding efforts. IDP relief materials were stolen. The insecurity has become a striving industry for many involved.


For the umpteenth time, there is need for sincerity of purpose. The security architecture should be rejig. There should be deployment of technology to enhance the functionality of the security agents. The training of the agents in modern ways of policing and securing the country should be a continous exercise. They should also be provided with modern equipment, arms and amunitions. More personnel should be recruited into different security agencies.


Unfortunately, these measures may still have limitations as to their effectiveness as long as we continue to operate this dysfunctional system of government as we have in the country. Nigeria should be restructured. The much advocated state police, local police and community policing will be consequential dividends of a properly restructured country. We cannot be doing the same thing over and over, but expect different results. That’s insanity. When are we going to be "sane" and do the right things?


In all, all glory be to God for the safe return of the Kankara boys. We urge the government to put similarly intense efforts at rescuing other citizens in captivity of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, including Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls, and the rest.


May God continue to protect us.


God Bless Nigeria.


[email protected]



Share, forward and retweet, as sharing makes love go round!


Let me first express my joy for the return of the students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state, alive and in one piece. These boys were kidnapped exactly a week ago from their boarding school. After a headcount, and the back and forth on the actual number of students missing, about 333 were finally confirmed by the Governor of Katsina state, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari. On return, 344 was mentioned. Garba Shehu has apologised for giving such a ridiculous number as 10.


The incident happened some hours after the arrival of the president in Katsina state, who is on one-week private visit to his home town, Daura, in the same state. Many saw the incident as an afront to the president, who is the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief Security Officer of the country, whose first constitutional responsibility is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens. Those who did that must have done so for strategic reason to make the president look bad. And they succeeded.


For the past one week, all kinds of verbal "missiles" have been thrown at the president and his administration. Series of events were organised to show the anger of Nigerians against his handling of the security matters in the country as a whole, and particularly in the north, which has been more at the receiving end. But, can the critics be blamed? No, ofcourse. Only an insensitive, inhumane and irresponsible person will be nonchalant about all that's going on in the country now.


Against my resolve some months ago, I found myself writing about the challenges of insecurities in Nigeria, and in the north specifically, in the past three weeks. The situation is akin to what the Yorubas will call; "egbinrin ote, bi a se n pakan, nikan nu ruwe" (the shoot of conspiracy, as we nip one, another sprouts). I am overwhelmed by the shear magnitude, frequency and the brutality of the attacks these days. Many lives have been lost to them.


The events of the past week overshadowed and dented the 78th birthday celebration of our President Muhammadu Buhari. The day was 17th of December. There was no chance for merriment given the circumstances we are in. I am using this opportunity to wish him happy birthday. Long life in good health (he already has prosperity, no need disturbing God about that again). Such occasion should be used to reflect on his life, living and the legacy he would like to leave behind after his tenure and after his sojourn on the mother earth.


The situation at this time didn't permit me to write about him personally, something I did in the past three years on every Saturday that followed his birthday. I usually used the opportunity of that day to x-ray few things about him, his personality, his government and performances. But today, the situation is sobering.


As at today, it is now 2441 days that Chibok girls were abducted from their hostel on April 14, 2014 in Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state, while preparing to write their WAEC in May/June 2014. Nigeria was never the same again. This was during the previous administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. When it happened, it was unbelievable to the extent that the FG denied it happened. This unfortunately slowed down immediate response to rescue them until they have gone far and it was too late. It was novel to us in Nigeria at the time.


The back and forth of that time was nauseating. The blame game, accusations and counter-accusations that followed made a mess of the whole incident. The various accusations of politicisation of it, the misinformation, sabotage, conspiracy, the many unanswered questions till date, the many issues that were shrouded in secrecy, and so on. The girls were the people who suffered for all of that. The government mishandled it.


So, one could imagine the fear and agony when the news of another mass kidnapping broke last Saturday. It was devastating. And to say we were still recovering from the massacre of 43 farmers in Zabambari, who were slaughtered by boko haram. That was shattering.


On Thursday afternoon, I was quick to spread the "good news" of the release of the boys immediately I got that from my publisher, one I always trust and rely on his sources and news. I was overexcited, knowing what evil must have passed over the boys if the news were to be true. Unfortunately, my celebration was cut short will another news of rebuttal by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, from whose Twitter handle many got the news also. She claimed her account was hacked. I had to forward that rebuttal as well to all the platforms I earlier shared the "good news". My heart was broken into pieces.


As if that was not enough, many of my friends on social media who saw my first post were very quick to criticise me for spreading "fake news" even if it was good. That actually came from our history. Many of them, as I often wrote in the past, are either APC members, "Buharists" (loyalists and supporters of President Buhari) or those who have sympathy for him and the current administration. So, it was an opportunity to hit back at me as they have always seen me as an "enemy" because of my critical analysis of this administration's performances in the past few years.


I took responsibility for my post with the explanation that fell more on deaf ears. However, as God would have it, the news turned out to be true. My joy was double bound. After confirmation the second time, I had to wait for more visual evidences before posting again. And as a believer in God, I "forgave" my earlier transducers who also tried to justify their actions against me (lol). "Ti a o ba gbagbe oro ana, a o ni reni ba sere (it's in forgiveness that relationships blossom).


All that were really inconsequential to me. The joy that the boys were back overshadowed any misgivings. This is one thing I commend the government under the leadership of President Buhari for and all the efforts put in it by the Katsina state governor. They did very well. Those six days were traumatising to the parents of these kids. I knew because I followed the incident keenly. Katsina was under my jurisdiction while I worked in the north for about 10 years.


I know the Kankara village. I passed there on my way from and to Kano, Dutsinma, Funtua, etc. countless times. I hope people can now understand my attachment. Katsina was naturally a relatively more peaceful state in the north, even at the height of the boko haram attacks. How it became such a hot bed of criminals still baffles me. I don't want to join in different conspiratorial analysis that followed the abduction and release. I am simply happy that the kids are back.


This is similar to what happened in Dapchi nearly three years ago. Abduction and latter released soon after. That still has its scar on us all as one girl, Leah Sharibu is still in captivity, just like over 100 Chibok girls who have not been released till date, in spite of all the government's efforts. It’s true that one of the waves that President Buhari and APC rode to power was that of Chibok girls and general insecurities.


In 2014, #BringBackOurGirls went viral. It became a global movement, triggered by a group with the same name in Nigeria. They were nightmare to Jonathan and his government. The conveners were Dr. Oby Ezekwezili, Ayesha Yesufu and some others. Some people in the present administration were part of the movement. The people in power today, took advantage of the potency of that movement to damage (literally) Jonathan and his government. He was denigrated, called all kinds of names. People were sold their alternative, which included securing the nation, ending boko haram and bringing back all the Chibok girls in record time. But here we are. The chickens have come home to roost.


Not only that boko haram has not been defeated and that many Chibok girls are still in captivity, the general security across the country has collapsed, unlike in the past when boko haram was the biggest security challenge. Now, roads have become death traps as they have been taken over by kidnappers. Farms are killing fields as they have been colonised by bandits. Many communities have become ghost towns since people ran away and abandoned their ancestral homes for fear of being killed. "Iku t'onpa ojugba eni, owe lo npa fun ni" (to be forewarned, is to be foreharmed).


Nowhere is safe now. Nobody feels safe. But, we cannot give up on our country. Emir of Kaura Namoda of Zamfara state escaped by the whimsical on Thursday night, from being killed on Zaira-Funtua road. Eight others in his entourage were not that lucky. They were killed by bandits who attacked their convoy. Another Emir was kidnapped from inside the mosque in Kogi while he went for morning prayer yesterday.


What is really going on? The situation has become hydra-headed. For years, there have been calls for the rejigging of the national security architecture and breathing of fresh air into the leadership of security agencies, but all that fell on deaf ears. The president has the prerogative of appointing and sacking them but he didn't do anything. May be he knows what the rest of Nigerians don't know, because, even the national assembly's call was never heeded.


Then, one wonders who benefits from these insecurities when events that happened this week is considered. On Monday, the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG) organised a meeting in Arewa House, Kaduna, to discuss the problem of the insecurities in the north, a welcome development. But what happened? There was an invasion of the venue by arms-bearing thugs and hoodlooms who attacked them, scattered the gathering, broke cars and other facilities, many invitees and dignitaries scampered for safety. Many were wounded. Who sponsored them? What was the motive? How does one explain an attack by "potential" victims of insecurities on the people who tried to profer solutions to their problems? What's really going on?


Why has the federal government not been able to nab the financiers and sponsors of the terrorists and bandits all these years despite having the helicopter view of financial transactions and movements of funds through the CBN and other regulatory agencies? Afterall, it took the CBN only few days to track those accused of financing the #EndSARS peaceful protesters and froze their accounts. Or is it a matter of interests and priorities?


In similar scenario, it took the government of UAE to identify and arrest some sponsors of terrorism in Nigeria. Before, during and after, we did not hear any action from the government of Nigeria, CBN or other agencies. These are concerns among many. How do we move forward from here?


What I believe is missing in all of this is sincerity of purpose. The people saddled with the responsibilities of protecting lives and properties are not completely sincere in their handling of the issue. This is why there are always accusations and allegations of complicity in crimes, corruption in security funding and rebuilding efforts. IDP relief materials were stolen. The insecurity has become a striving industry for many involved.


For the umpteenth time, there is need for sincerity of purpose. The security architecture should be rejig. There should be deployment of technology to enhance the functionality of the security agents. The training of the agents in modern ways of policing and securing the country should be a continous exercise. They should also be provided with modern equipment, arms and amunitions. More personnel should be recruited into different security agencies.


Unfortunately, these measures may still have limitations as to their effectiveness as long as we continue to operate this dysfunctional system of government as we have in the country. Nigeria should be restructured. The much advocated state police, local police and community policing will be consequential dividends of a properly restructured country. We cannot be doing the same thing over and over, but expect different results. That’s insanity. When are we going to be "sane" and do the right things?


In all, all glory be to God for the safe return of the Kankara boys. We urge the government to put similarly intense efforts at rescuing other citizens in captivity of terrorists, bandits and kidnappers, including Leah Sharibu, Chibok girls, and the rest.


May God continue to protect us.


God Bless Nigeria.


[email protected]



Share, forward and retweet, as sharing makes love go round!

BUHARI'S BIRTHDAY OF MIXED BLESSINGS BY OKEGBOLA

BUHARI'S BIRTHDAY OF MIXED BLESSINGS BY OKEGBOLA



I can not figure out how President Mohammadu Buhari feels on his 78th birthday celebrations. I don't even know if he is a birthday person. I am not but I'm not a president; I'm just an ordinary Nigerian. I'm not because I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, if I could eat my three square meals everyday that was enough and birthday celebration will be a luxury. I don't think President Buhari had a different background than I had. I don't think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth either.


But he has been around the corridor of power for a long time and things could have changed. This is his second shot at the headship of Nigeria and the military he served could have given him a taste of the luxury/ luxurious life. Olusegun Obasanjo, first president of the restored Nigeria's third republic was also not born with a silver spoon in his mouth but his friends and hangers on always had great birthdays with pages of newspaper taken to greet him on his birthday as "father of modern Nigeria". Perhaps Olusegun Obasanjo, also a retired General of the Nigeria Army just like President Mohammed Buhari learnt the luxury of birthday in the Military.


Buhari has a different personality from Obasanjo. Buhari is not showy and does not hug the klieg light; at least we have that impression of him. Are we right? The first lady glitters and is so outspoken that one will think only a flashy and ceremonies man will win the heart of such a beauty. Whether Buhari loves birthdays or not, it is certain his 78th birthday on 17 December 2000 was a mixed blessings. Before the birthday the President took a leave and planned to chill out in the quiet of Daura his home town but three hours drive from Daura the boko haram or bandits or both rolled together in one gave him an ugly birthday present in Kankara when they raided a science secondary school and left with 600 students. Up till the time of writing more that 300 student are still missing.


Few weeks before Kakanra, boko haram had similarly chosen a rice farm where they slit open the throats of 43 hapless farmers. By doing that, they threw spanner in the works of Buhari's plan to make the nation self sufficient in rice production. If there is anything the North needs, it is science education. In one state in the North there are twenty three hospitals and twenty two medical doctors. So to have raided a science secondary in the North and make away with over 600 students is to have worsen the situation of medical service there. There were much hues and cries that followed the cruel killing of the 43 rice farmers and the languages of condemnations that came from both local and international sources were so unsettling, so the choice of Daura by Buhari to chill down may have been informed by the need to get away from the ascerbic criticism.


A barrage of criticism again trailed the President. There are obvious enemies who desire no rest for the President. One, a former acolyte and from North openly told readers his grouse with the President . He had medical doctors and lawyers among his children and the Federal Government will not recruit them into the Federal Civil Service. You wonder why the Civil Service and not set up private practice to provide employment but in the quest you see another problem that plagues the north, the desire only for government job where little is required to be done and where the opportunity exists to steal as much as possible. The father had done nothing since independence in 1960 than stay in corridors of power and having tasted how easy to make wealth without lifting a finger, why should he encourage his children to toil for every kobo they will earn as private persons.


And if the children must be civil servants why not in the state of the father? Here again you see why some people are angry with the now strident calls for restructuring. Restructuring means whoever will rule over any portion of Nigeria will to engage in hard thinking to raise needed revenues to run that portion of the country. If you don't work you don't eat and many in Nigeria prefer not to work but eat. It's so easy to go to Abuja and collect oil money and go back home to share it. Unfortunately, it does not seem that the President is prepared to confront such laziness in Nigeria because his body language does not indicate he wants anything to do with restructuring. Anyhow, oil is no longer in demand the world over become substitutes have been found for it and so earnings from it is fast drying up. If the harsh criticism of the President by some northerners is to take his attention away from needed restructuring, they may have been successful. But if it is to get them favour, so far it has not been successful because the President has stuck to his 2015 word to be for all and to be for nobody.


Another birthday gift to the President concerns his health. Seems each time there is crisis in the country many of the enemies of the President want to talk about the fact that he survived the initial challenges he had with his health. Some went as far as to say the person Nigerians have in Aso Rock is a clone of the man we voted for in 2015. Despite the scientific denial of such possibility by former head of our space research, Dr. Borofice, now a senator, the suspicion is not dead. The latest of such suspicion is that the President forgets so easily. It becomes disturbing when these suspicion is coming from persons from his immediate constituency in the North. On the President birthday a prominent second republic politician and a medical doctor, also a radical, Junaid Mohammed alleged that the President suffers from dementia. He told Tribune online emphatically that the President has been diagnosed with demential and thus unfit to continue to run the country. Coming from a medical doctor, this allegation can not be treated with levity.


Do these suscipicions stick? Are they true? Are they just bile? Are they attempts to cower the President to do their bidding? What is their bidding? The situation is not helped much by the traditional Nigeria mentality to treat health as a secret. Fortunately some governors are breaking out of this cocoon. When Governor Jide Sanwoolu of Lagos went down on Covid-19, the public was promptly told with the press aides using the opportunity to tell the public that the virus is spiking again and to remind them of the Covid protocol. Similarly, Governors Makinde of Oyo State, Akeredolu of Ondo State, and El Rufai of Kaduna State have toed the same line. If our democracy is going to be stable, the health of the President and that of other public servants must not be a secret. Hiding the health status of leaders lead credence to many lies. It will amazing what huge number of Nigeria subscribe to what these critics are saying.


It is not all gloom for Mr. President on his birthday. His party men have risen to celebrate him on his birthday. The Progressive Governors Forum has sent to greet the President in a very generous tone. What makes these forum progressive? What makes others unprogressive? May be their party affiliation. If you belong to PDP, you are probably not seen as progressive even if you have the best achievement in your state. But if you cross over to APC you may wear the bag of the progressive which means progressive in Nigeria's political fermament has nothing to do with ideology but with mere label. Well it seems good for progressive governors to identify with and celebrate the progressive President. They are progressive and the President is also, even if pensioners in their states are protesting none payment of their pensions. They are progressive and the President is especially on the occasion of his birthday even if Nigeria is in recession and has no hope of quiting it.


They must be progressive and so is the President even if over 100 million Nigerians would have their sims blocked if they could not meet the two weeks deadline slammed on Nigeria by Nigeria Identity Management Commission, NIMC, an exercise that moves at the speed of snail. I hope this will be pulled through;  at least we will finally have a country that can track bandits, kidnappers and boko haram. That will happen if those who are to employ the data are not themselves the sponsors of these criminals.


Mr. President, this is wishing you a happy birthday.


[email protected]



I can not figure out how President Mohammadu Buhari feels on his 78th birthday celebrations. I don't even know if he is a birthday person. I am not but I'm not a president; I'm just an ordinary Nigerian. I'm not because I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth, if I could eat my three square meals everyday that was enough and birthday celebration will be a luxury. I don't think President Buhari had a different background than I had. I don't think he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth either.


But he has been around the corridor of power for a long time and things could have changed. This is his second shot at the headship of Nigeria and the military he served could have given him a taste of the luxury/ luxurious life. Olusegun Obasanjo, first president of the restored Nigeria's third republic was also not born with a silver spoon in his mouth but his friends and hangers on always had great birthdays with pages of newspaper taken to greet him on his birthday as "father of modern Nigeria". Perhaps Olusegun Obasanjo, also a retired General of the Nigeria Army just like President Mohammed Buhari learnt the luxury of birthday in the Military.


Buhari has a different personality from Obasanjo. Buhari is not showy and does not hug the klieg light; at least we have that impression of him. Are we right? The first lady glitters and is so outspoken that one will think only a flashy and ceremonies man will win the heart of such a beauty. Whether Buhari loves birthdays or not, it is certain his 78th birthday on 17 December 2000 was a mixed blessings. Before the birthday the President took a leave and planned to chill out in the quiet of Daura his home town but three hours drive from Daura the boko haram or bandits or both rolled together in one gave him an ugly birthday present in Kankara when they raided a science secondary school and left with 600 students. Up till the time of writing more that 300 student are still missing.


Few weeks before Kakanra, boko haram had similarly chosen a rice farm where they slit open the throats of 43 hapless farmers. By doing that, they threw spanner in the works of Buhari's plan to make the nation self sufficient in rice production. If there is anything the North needs, it is science education. In one state in the North there are twenty three hospitals and twenty two medical doctors. So to have raided a science secondary in the North and make away with over 600 students is to have worsen the situation of medical service there. There were much hues and cries that followed the cruel killing of the 43 rice farmers and the languages of condemnations that came from both local and international sources were so unsettling, so the choice of Daura by Buhari to chill down may have been informed by the need to get away from the ascerbic criticism.


A barrage of criticism again trailed the President. There are obvious enemies who desire no rest for the President. One, a former acolyte and from North openly told readers his grouse with the President . He had medical doctors and lawyers among his children and the Federal Government will not recruit them into the Federal Civil Service. You wonder why the Civil Service and not set up private practice to provide employment but in the quest you see another problem that plagues the north, the desire only for government job where little is required to be done and where the opportunity exists to steal as much as possible. The father had done nothing since independence in 1960 than stay in corridors of power and having tasted how easy to make wealth without lifting a finger, why should he encourage his children to toil for every kobo they will earn as private persons.


And if the children must be civil servants why not in the state of the father? Here again you see why some people are angry with the now strident calls for restructuring. Restructuring means whoever will rule over any portion of Nigeria will to engage in hard thinking to raise needed revenues to run that portion of the country. If you don't work you don't eat and many in Nigeria prefer not to work but eat. It's so easy to go to Abuja and collect oil money and go back home to share it. Unfortunately, it does not seem that the President is prepared to confront such laziness in Nigeria because his body language does not indicate he wants anything to do with restructuring. Anyhow, oil is no longer in demand the world over become substitutes have been found for it and so earnings from it is fast drying up. If the harsh criticism of the President by some northerners is to take his attention away from needed restructuring, they may have been successful. But if it is to get them favour, so far it has not been successful because the President has stuck to his 2015 word to be for all and to be for nobody.


Another birthday gift to the President concerns his health. Seems each time there is crisis in the country many of the enemies of the President want to talk about the fact that he survived the initial challenges he had with his health. Some went as far as to say the person Nigerians have in Aso Rock is a clone of the man we voted for in 2015. Despite the scientific denial of such possibility by former head of our space research, Dr. Borofice, now a senator, the suspicion is not dead. The latest of such suspicion is that the President forgets so easily. It becomes disturbing when these suspicion is coming from persons from his immediate constituency in the North. On the President birthday a prominent second republic politician and a medical doctor, also a radical, Junaid Mohammed alleged that the President suffers from dementia. He told Tribune online emphatically that the President has been diagnosed with demential and thus unfit to continue to run the country. Coming from a medical doctor, this allegation can not be treated with levity.


Do these suscipicions stick? Are they true? Are they just bile? Are they attempts to cower the President to do their bidding? What is their bidding? The situation is not helped much by the traditional Nigeria mentality to treat health as a secret. Fortunately some governors are breaking out of this cocoon. When Governor Jide Sanwoolu of Lagos went down on Covid-19, the public was promptly told with the press aides using the opportunity to tell the public that the virus is spiking again and to remind them of the Covid protocol. Similarly, Governors Makinde of Oyo State, Akeredolu of Ondo State, and El Rufai of Kaduna State have toed the same line. If our democracy is going to be stable, the health of the President and that of other public servants must not be a secret. Hiding the health status of leaders lead credence to many lies. It will amazing what huge number of Nigeria subscribe to what these critics are saying.


It is not all gloom for Mr. President on his birthday. His party men have risen to celebrate him on his birthday. The Progressive Governors Forum has sent to greet the President in a very generous tone. What makes these forum progressive? What makes others unprogressive? May be their party affiliation. If you belong to PDP, you are probably not seen as progressive even if you have the best achievement in your state. But if you cross over to APC you may wear the bag of the progressive which means progressive in Nigeria's political fermament has nothing to do with ideology but with mere label. Well it seems good for progressive governors to identify with and celebrate the progressive President. They are progressive and the President is also, even if pensioners in their states are protesting none payment of their pensions. They are progressive and the President is especially on the occasion of his birthday even if Nigeria is in recession and has no hope of quiting it.


They must be progressive and so is the President even if over 100 million Nigerians would have their sims blocked if they could not meet the two weeks deadline slammed on Nigeria by Nigeria Identity Management Commission, NIMC, an exercise that moves at the speed of snail. I hope this will be pulled through;  at least we will finally have a country that can track bandits, kidnappers and boko haram. That will happen if those who are to employ the data are not themselves the sponsors of these criminals.


Mr. President, this is wishing you a happy birthday.


[email protected]

Governor Masari receives freed Katsina students, gives condition for reuniting them with families

Governor Masari receives freed Katsina students, gives condition for reuniting them with families

 


The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, on Friday received 344 secondary school students released six days after they were kidnapped by Boko Haram.


The students were released in Zamfara State, and travelled to Katsina government house where they were received by the governor.



The students were abducted by gunmen on Friday last week from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.


Terror group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the abduction and subsequently released a video that showed some of the boys pleading for help to return home.


Mr Masari said the released students will be reunited with their parents after they rest from the fatigue and undergo medical check-up, in addition to being given proper clothing and feeding.


“The released students will be carefully reunited with their parents after the state authorities in collaboration with local government officials confirm that those that come forward are the real parents, guardian,” the governor said.


“The principal of the school cannot know all the 344 parents and guardians of the released boys which is why the government has to engage local officials. Also, the released boys are to identify their relations before we hand over any child.


“The Executive Secretary, Science and Technical Education Board, will list all the names of the students and their parents because we are not going to release a child to anyone until we are sure they are the parents or guardians.



“We will continue to discharge our responsibilities as government and leaders in the state. I am more disturbed about the abduction than any other parents. This is because while parents cried for a missing child, I cried for 344 missing children.”


The governor said security is the responsibility of all citizens, saying the abduction of the schoolboys affected everyone in the 34 council areas of the state in many ways.


“For you the released students, it is now part of your life story and your journey to adulthood, some of you will only understand this in your later life, we suffered physically, mentally, psychologically and we thank Allah for the success,” Mr Masari said.


Source: Premium Times



 


The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, on Friday received 344 secondary school students released six days after they were kidnapped by Boko Haram.


The students were released in Zamfara State, and travelled to Katsina government house where they were received by the governor.



The students were abducted by gunmen on Friday last week from Government Science Secondary School in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.


Terror group, Boko Haram, claimed responsibility for the abduction and subsequently released a video that showed some of the boys pleading for help to return home.


Mr Masari said the released students will be reunited with their parents after they rest from the fatigue and undergo medical check-up, in addition to being given proper clothing and feeding.


“The released students will be carefully reunited with their parents after the state authorities in collaboration with local government officials confirm that those that come forward are the real parents, guardian,” the governor said.


“The principal of the school cannot know all the 344 parents and guardians of the released boys which is why the government has to engage local officials. Also, the released boys are to identify their relations before we hand over any child.


“The Executive Secretary, Science and Technical Education Board, will list all the names of the students and their parents because we are not going to release a child to anyone until we are sure they are the parents or guardians.



“We will continue to discharge our responsibilities as government and leaders in the state. I am more disturbed about the abduction than any other parents. This is because while parents cried for a missing child, I cried for 344 missing children.”


The governor said security is the responsibility of all citizens, saying the abduction of the schoolboys affected everyone in the 34 council areas of the state in many ways.


“For you the released students, it is now part of your life story and your journey to adulthood, some of you will only understand this in your later life, we suffered physically, mentally, psychologically and we thank Allah for the success,” Mr Masari said.


Source: Premium Times



Katsina Govt confirms release of Kankara schoolboys, Amounts paid not disclosed

Katsina Govt confirms release of Kankara schoolboys, Amounts paid not disclosed

The schoolboys kidnapped by bandits from Government Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State at the weekend have been rescued.


The terms and the amount paid to bandits kidnappers to secure their release are not discussed when a senior Spokesperson to Governor Aminu Masari confirmed the release of the schoolboy abducted at the Government Science Secondary School Kankara on Thursday evening.

Several other sources involved in the matter have also confirmed that all the abducted schoolboys were released, and would soon be allowed to be reunited with their families after checks have been conducted.

AAC presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Activist Omoyele Sowore also said the schoolboys have regained their freedom but the amounts paid to secure their release are yet to be known .


The schoolboys boys are currently in Tsafe, Zamfara, where they would be brought to Kankara on Friday.

Earlier, a video emerged reportedly from Boko Haram, showing dozens of young boys in a forest begging the Nigerian armed forces to stop looking for them.


The terror group said they are the children kidnapped from their school last Friday.


For two nights, the parents of the abducted Kankara schoolboys have been keeping vigil at the school premises.


Meanwhile, Governor Masari himself has called the Nigerian President, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to brief him of the rescue of the abducted schoolboys.


Following the briefing, Buhari welcomed the release of the kidnapped students, describing their safe return as a big relief to their families, the entire country and international community.


In a short remark shortly after their release was announced, Buhari expressed the nation’s appreciation for the steps taken by all involved to make their release possible.


Major Gen. Buhari specifically cited what he called the “spirit of partnership and the collaborative efforts of the government of Katsina, Zamfara and military leading to the release.’’


He commended the nation’s intelligence agencies, the military and police force for providing the environment for safe release of the hostages.


“The Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and the army worked extremely hard. As soon as I got the information I congratulated them. The Armed Forces know their job. They have been well trained and properly motivated.”


As usual, in his remarks, on the issue of detainees held elsewhere in the country by either terrorists or bandits, the President gave assurances that his administration is aware of its responsibility to protect the life and property of the Nigerians.


Sadly, Buhari urged the citizens to be patient and fair to the administration as it deals with the problems of security, economy and corruption without realizing that his Government arbitrary increment of VAt, electricity tariff, petrol pump price amidst lack of economic directives since the inception of his administration down to the year of the Lord Covid19 has turned many poorer.


Buhari noted that the administration was fully aware that it was elected to resolve challenges. “When we came, we made efforts that yielded the return of the Chibok Girls. When a similar incident of school abduction happened at Dapchi, we successfully returned all but one of the more than one hundred abductees. When this latest incident happened, we put in our efforts and today we have this result to show.”


He pointed to the successes of the administration in dealing with security in the South South and North East, despite Boko Haram still having their free days as Buhari Government has been pouring billion of dollars into security more than any one in history, through which the terrorists are also getting empowered and weapons whenever they overrun military base.


He said the North West now presents a challenge which his administration is determined to deal with. But indeed the president needs to properly informed that no part of the country is currently safe.


“We have a lot of work to do, especially now that we have re-opened the borders. It is unfortunate that the bandits and terrorists continue to get weapons even under the circumstances of the border closure. We are going to dare them. We will deal with all that,” the President further assured.


The closures of borders by the very corrupt administration without a sound, sincere, and pro people economy policies.

The schoolboys kidnapped by bandits from Government Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State at the weekend have been rescued.


The terms and the amount paid to bandits kidnappers to secure their release are not discussed when a senior Spokesperson to Governor Aminu Masari confirmed the release of the schoolboy abducted at the Government Science Secondary School Kankara on Thursday evening.

Several other sources involved in the matter have also confirmed that all the abducted schoolboys were released, and would soon be allowed to be reunited with their families after checks have been conducted.

AAC presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Activist Omoyele Sowore also said the schoolboys have regained their freedom but the amounts paid to secure their release are yet to be known .


The schoolboys boys are currently in Tsafe, Zamfara, where they would be brought to Kankara on Friday.

Earlier, a video emerged reportedly from Boko Haram, showing dozens of young boys in a forest begging the Nigerian armed forces to stop looking for them.


The terror group said they are the children kidnapped from their school last Friday.


For two nights, the parents of the abducted Kankara schoolboys have been keeping vigil at the school premises.


Meanwhile, Governor Masari himself has called the Nigerian President, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to brief him of the rescue of the abducted schoolboys.


Following the briefing, Buhari welcomed the release of the kidnapped students, describing their safe return as a big relief to their families, the entire country and international community.


In a short remark shortly after their release was announced, Buhari expressed the nation’s appreciation for the steps taken by all involved to make their release possible.


Major Gen. Buhari specifically cited what he called the “spirit of partnership and the collaborative efforts of the government of Katsina, Zamfara and military leading to the release.’’


He commended the nation’s intelligence agencies, the military and police force for providing the environment for safe release of the hostages.


“The Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and the army worked extremely hard. As soon as I got the information I congratulated them. The Armed Forces know their job. They have been well trained and properly motivated.”


As usual, in his remarks, on the issue of detainees held elsewhere in the country by either terrorists or bandits, the President gave assurances that his administration is aware of its responsibility to protect the life and property of the Nigerians.


Sadly, Buhari urged the citizens to be patient and fair to the administration as it deals with the problems of security, economy and corruption without realizing that his Government arbitrary increment of VAt, electricity tariff, petrol pump price amidst lack of economic directives since the inception of his administration down to the year of the Lord Covid19 has turned many poorer.


Buhari noted that the administration was fully aware that it was elected to resolve challenges. “When we came, we made efforts that yielded the return of the Chibok Girls. When a similar incident of school abduction happened at Dapchi, we successfully returned all but one of the more than one hundred abductees. When this latest incident happened, we put in our efforts and today we have this result to show.”


He pointed to the successes of the administration in dealing with security in the South South and North East, despite Boko Haram still having their free days as Buhari Government has been pouring billion of dollars into security more than any one in history, through which the terrorists are also getting empowered and weapons whenever they overrun military base.


He said the North West now presents a challenge which his administration is determined to deal with. But indeed the president needs to properly informed that no part of the country is currently safe.


“We have a lot of work to do, especially now that we have re-opened the borders. It is unfortunate that the bandits and terrorists continue to get weapons even under the circumstances of the border closure. We are going to dare them. We will deal with all that,” the President further assured.


The closures of borders by the very corrupt administration without a sound, sincere, and pro people economy policies.

Poster Speaks

Poster Speaks/box

Trending

randomposts