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Bello Kirfi, Ex-Minister of Special Duties, sacked as Wazirin Bauchi over disloyalty to gov

Published

1 year ago

January 4, 2023

Former Minister of Special Duties, Bello Kirfi

The Bauchi Emirate Council has stripped a former Minister of Special Duties, Bello Kirfi, of his traditional title of “Wazirin Bauchi” and removed him from being a Council Member for the second time in five years.

The new development was said to be unconnected to the ex-minister’s alleged “disloyalty and disrespect” to the State Governor, Bala Mohammed.

Kirfi, a retired federal civil servant, was a Minister in the government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the 1980s, and also the Pro-Chancellor, University of Ilorin from 1997-99.

He also became Minister of Special Duties during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo in the 2000s.

The Octogenarian’s removal was conveyed in a letter addressed to him by the Secretary of the Bauchi Emirate Council, Alh. Shehu Mudi Muhammad.

It was dated January 3rd, 2023 with reference No: BEC/ADM/20/VOL.XV and titled: “Removal from office as a Council Member and Traditional Title of Wazirin Bauchi.”

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Muhammad stated in his letter that the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state informed the Emirate Council of Kirfi’s “disloyalty and disrespectful” to the governor, hence his removal from office.

He said: “I am directed to refer to a letter received from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs of reference No: MLG/LG/S/72/T dated 30th December 2022.

“The content of the said letter indicated your disloyalty and disrespect to the Executive Governor of the State and the government. It therefore directed for your removal with immediate effect.

“In view of the above, you are hereby removed from office as Wazirin Bauchi and also as a Council Member of Bauchi Emirate.”

The PUNCH reports that Kirfi was suspended by the Bauchi Emirate Council in March 2017 by the then-governor, Mohammed Abubakar.

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The Information officer of the Emirate Council, Salmanu Lame, had, in a statement that was made available to journalists, said the suspension which was for his alleged “disloyalty and unruly behaviour,” was with immediate effect.

However, three years later, following the intervention of Governor Bala Mohammed and wider consultations with stakeholders and the Emirate, in particular, the Emir of Bauchi lifted the suspension in August 2020.

The governor personally visited the elder statesman in his house and presented him with the letter reinstating him as the Wazirin Bauchi where he applauded him for his patriotism, commitment and sportsmanship, especially his efforts in the protection of the rights of Bauchi indigenes and Nigerians in general.

While presenting him with the letter, he said: “I am here with my deputy and other top government officials to pay you this auspicious visit, to present to you a message from the Emir of Bauchi, His Royal Highness, Dr. Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu.

“On behalf of the government and people of Bauchi State, all traditional leaders, it is my honour and privilege to present you with your letter of reinstatement as Wazirin Bauchi by the Emir of Bauchi. Alhamdulillah, I am so happy that the reinstatement came under my tenure.”

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Two Cameroonian, two Nigerians arrested over kidnapping

Published

25 mins ago

May 17, 2024

Trends Admin

Delta Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright,

Two Cameroonian, two Nigerians arrested over kidnapping

A stint operation carried out by detectives from Force Headquarters, Abuja, and Operatives of Delta State Police Command has led to the arrest of a Camerounian and two Nigerians over kidnapping.

The three-man gang was known for kidnapping unsuspecting residents in Orerokpe, Sapele and Warri axes of Delta State.

One suspect is Kaduna-based, while the others are from Kogi and Cameroun, respectively.

Intelligence gathered on some kidnapping incidents carried out in the Warri axis pointed accusing fingers at Yakubu Ya’u, 20, a Kaduna resident who often visited Oha and Ughwagba communities in Okpe Local Government Area of the state to kidnap unsuspecting victims for ransom.

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Led by the DPO of Orerokpe Division, DSP Paul Oboware, the detectives trailed the suspect to his hideout in Warri, where he was arrested.

Grilled, the suspect led the police operatives to two other members of the gang, Musa Yakubu, 25, from Kogi State and Abdulahi Mohammed, 38, from Cameroun.

The gang was allegedly responsible for several kidnapping incidents in Orerokpe, Sapele and Warri axes of Delta State.

Some victims of the crime duly identified the suspects who led the detectives to Ughwagba, where two pump action guns, one live cartridge and one knife buried in a bush were recovered by the police.

A statement issued by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, said investigation into the matter has commenced with efforts to apprehend other fleeing members of the gang in top gear.

Two Cameroonian, two Nigerians arrested over kidnapping

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Police arrest suspected killers of Major-General, others in Imo

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2024

Trends Admin

Police arrest suspected killers of Major-General, others in Imo

…Parade 435 suspects, rescue 13 kidnap victims

Parading the suspects including 435 others at the command’s headquarters, Owerri on Thursday, May 16, the state commissioner of police, Aboki Danjuma, said the syndicate was busted through intense intelligence gathering and sustained follow-up by the command’s anti-kidnapping unit.

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He said: “The suspects, Chukwunonso Emmanuel, Okoroigwe Goodness, and Innocent Ogu, were arrested in different locations in Imo and Anambra States. They confessed to the crime of kidnapping and murdering Major General Duru, as well as being members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) /Eastern Security Network (ESN).”

Aboki, who was represented by the police spokesman, Henry Okoye, disclosed that the police also recovered 48 different firearms, 552 various calibres of live ammunition, and several stolen vehicles from the suspects.

“Additionally, 13 kidnapped victims were rescued and N9 million and other properties were recovered from the suspects,” he said.

The commissioner of police commended the operatives for their gallantry display in achieving the operational feats and charged them to sustain the tempo in their unwavering commitment to curtail the activities of criminally minded elements in the state.

“The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations”, he added.

Police arrest suspected killers of Major-General, others in Imo

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Bandits kill three, abduct 120 in fresh Zamfara community attack

Published

1 hour ago

May 17, 2024

Trends Admin

Bandits kill three, abduct 120 in fresh Zamfara community attack

Not less than three residents have tragically lost their lives, and more than 120 others have been abducted following a harrowing attack by notorious bandits on the Goran Namaye community in Zamfara State’s Maradun Local Government Area.

Abubakar Muhammad, a resident of the area, recounted that the terrorists stormed the town at approximately 1:17 am on Thursday, systematically moving from one residence to another. He revealed that the abducted individuals were predominantly women and men, highlighting that three lives were also lost during the raid.

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Muhammad described the assailants as arriving in significant numbers, mounted on motorcycles and armed with sophisticated weaponry, effectively surrounding the community as panic spread. He lamented the chaos that ensued, with residents fleeing in disarray and many being pursued into the forest by the attackers.

Despite the gravity of the situation, security agencies in the state have yet to issue an official statement on the incident at the time of this report.