Security

Armed bandits kill three, kidnap seven in southern Kaduna

Published

4 years ago

September 7, 2020

…We’re ready for peace, says Miyetti Allah

Again, armed bandits, yesterday attacked Adara community in Kajuru Council of Kaduna State, killing three natives and taking seven hostage. This was amid efforts by the state government to promote peace among the natives and the Fulani in the southern part of Kaduna.

Adara Development Association (ADA) has, however, condemned the invasion of the community by the armed men suspected to be Fulani herders. A statement signed by the President of ADA, Awemi Maisamari, read in part: “Today, September 6, 2020 at 2a.m., Adara community in Buda Ward of Kajuru Council came under another deadly attack from suspected Fulani militia. The premeditated and unprovoked attack claimed the lives of Rev. Alubara Audu, Adamu Tata and Ishaku Peter.”

He also listed those that were kidnapped in the area to include Sani Peter and Esther Peter. Maisamari added: “About the same time, the terrorists abducted five people from neighbouring Kemara Rimi community of Buda Ward namely Ojo Aminu, Danfulani Makaranta, Namiji Gwamna, Ali Musa and Grace Mathew.

“These callous and barbaric attacks sometimes abate, but never really stop in Adara community.” According to Adara leaders, with the continuation of such hostilities by Fulani herders, even when various peace moves are being initiated, “it becomes clearer that the purported dialogue is serving as a diversion to allow the attackers continue their activities. We are left wondering whether it is worthwhile engaging in such peace talks if this continues.”

Insisting that Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s demand for details of occupied villages in southern Kaduna had since been met, the community leaders added: “Any further failure to adequately address these issues will be a confirmation that government is only interested in reeling out rhetoric.”The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mohammed Jalige, did not respond to inquiries on the incident.

MEANWHILE, the Kaduna State Chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has commended the federal and state governments’ effort to restore peace in southern Kaduna, expressing readiness to make peace with aggrieved communities.

MACBAN made this known in a communiqué issued at the end of a peace summit in Kafanchan yesterday.While promising to expose all trouble-makers and criminals in the area and make them face the law, the cattle breeders called for the establishment of the community-based security committee, with membership from all ethnic groups in the area.

In the communiqué signed by the Chairman, Hassan Tugga; Southern Kaduna Zonal Chairman; Abdulhamid Musa; Zonal Secretary, Shuaibu Usman; and Director, Media and Publicity, Ibrahim Zango, the association urged governments to compensate those who had lost cows and other valuables to clashes in the area. Security operatives and other government officials attended the peace summit.

Security

We Have Paid N160bn in Ransoms, Levies to Bandits – Gobir Community

Published

7 days ago

September 1, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

As the people of Sokoto State, especially those in Sabon Birni Local Government Area, continue to battle insecurity, a group of professionals within the local government, Gobir Development Association, has revealed that the people of the community paid over N160bn in levies and ransom payments to bandits in the area.

According to a press statement signed by the chairman of the group, Idris Alhassan Gatawa, and its secretary, Professor Aliyu Gobir, and made available to newsmen in the state on Saturday, it was said that more than two billion naira was also lost to armed bandits.

The group, while reacting to the recent killing of their District Head, Muhammad Bawa, who was killed by bandits following his abduction along Sabon Birni – Sokoto Road after his official engagement in the state capital, condemned the rising case of insecurity in the area.

The group said, “Over sixty billion naira has been paid as ransom, over a hundred billion naira paid as imposed levies by the bandits, and more than two billion naira lost to armed bandits.

“Likewise, about six hundred thousand heads of cattle and five million sheep and goats were rustled within the last five years.

“About two-thirds of the arable farmlands are inaccessible due to the fear of being killed or kidnapped by bandits, causing severe economic losses, hardship in terms of food and nutrition security, and psychological and social imbalances.”

They, however, appealed to the government at all levels to act swiftly to stop the killings, kidnappings, displacement of people, and livestock rustling to restore peace and stability in all areas affected by banditry. (Sunday PUNCH: Text, Excluding Headline)

Security

Why I Resigned – ex-DG NIA

Published

2 weeks ago

August 25, 2024

Sunrise Nigeria

Ahmed Rufai Abubakar the former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), who resigned yesterday’s evening (Saturday) has given reasons for his resignation.

Ahmed who tendered his resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, on Saturday spoke to journalists shortly after seeing the president.

The former NIA boss cited personal and family issues as his reasons for resigning from office.

“There are quite a number of reasons one will do that. Some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue,” he said

“I discussed with Mr. President, he understood very well, and I promised to remain steadfast with issues and the security situations of the country.”

He also expressed gratitude to the President for allowing him to serve for the first 15 months of the new administration, having occupied the office since 2018

“After the briefing, I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted the resignation.

“I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for an extended period of 15 months, which is very rare,” Abubakar said.

He was first appointed DG of the NIA in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who extended his stay in office in December 2021.

Abubakar, a 71-year-old retired career foreign service officer from Katsina State, joined the security department of the Nigerian Foreign Service in 1993. In 2015, he was appointed senior special assistant to the president (SSAP) on international relations and foreign affairs.

He attended Bayero University, Kano, where he bagged bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French. He also speaks English and Arabic.

(PRNigeria)