metro
Sani Bello: Niger Has Recorded 50 Attacks, Lost 220 Lives In January Alone
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has said not less than 165 civilians, 25 security personnel, and 30 local vigilantes were killed within 17 days this year.
The governor announced the figures after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.
He said his state recorded 50 attacks and loss of lives between January 1 and January 17, while not less than 300 communities were also invaded by bandits within the same period, while 200 persons, including three Chinese nationals, were abducted.
He, however, expressed optimism that the state would witness remarkable improvement in security.
The President had, on Sunday, asked the military to respond “robustly” to the cases of killings and kidnappings in Niger State and to give effect to the strategic objectives through the use of force.
The governor said: “This afternoon, I came to visit Mr President to give him an update on the security situation in Niger State with regard to banditry activities, kidnapping, and cattle rustling among others.
READ ALSO:
- Kanu: IPOB grounds South East as Ozekhome joins defence team
- We’ll reintroduce electoral act amendment bill on Wednesday – Gbajabiamila,
- Alleged money laundering: Court grants Mompha N200m bail
“We had a very fruitful discussion. We were able to review some of the invasions in the state. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you all. In the last few days, there have been a lot of activities in Niger State. Hopefully, in the next two weeks, we will see some relief with regard to banditry.
“I also gave an highlight on some of the challenges. Of course, our size is a disadvantage, almost nine million hectares. We lost some forests.
“In January this year alone, we suffered not less than 50 reported attacks and loss of lives, between 1st and 17th January. Within the same period, not less than 300 communities have been invaded by bandits. The number of people kidnapped is 200, including three Chinese nationals. We also lost some security personnel. Their number is 25. Unfortunately, we lost about 165 civilians and 30 local vigilantes. So, it’s a very dire situation that we have been battling since the beginning of this year.
“But with the kind of zeal I have seen from our security agencies and all services. I’m very optimistic that the situation will be addressed. And hopefully, we should get a very peaceful state within the shortest possible time.
“But there is still a lot of work to do. We share borders with Kaduna, Zamfara, and Kebbi States. And these bandits have the habit of hibernating between forests, moving from Zamfara to Kebbi, and Kebbi to Niger. They take advantage of the cattle routes which they already know. They move on motorcycles. And most the areas and communities they attack have no access roads. So, you cannot drive there. So, our response time is slow.
“But going forward, there will be new strategies which I earlier mentioned. It will help us. But I can’t disclose some of those strategies. But basically, the States of Kaduna, Niger, Kebbi would have to work together to address the situation.
“What I realize is that they have been taking us on a merry-go-round. When we deal with them in Niger, they move to Kaduna. When Kaduna deals with them, they move to Katsina. They have been hibernating in the forest. Some of these operations need to be handled simultaneously so that we get the result.
“We are not happy and we are sad with the developments in these states. We are doing whatever we can, using kinetic and non kinetic efforts to see that we address the present situation.”
Daily Trust
metro
Many killed, houses, vehicles destroyed in Delta petrol tanker explosion
Many killed, houses, vehicles destroyed in Delta petrol tanker explosion
Many people were feared dead as a petrol tanker exploded Sunday afternoon on a highway in Delta State.
The accident occurring on Asaba-Lagos Road in the Agbor Ika South Local Government Area caused huge damage to houses and vehicles trapped in the inferno.
The explosion was reported to have happened when the petrol tanker was navigating a turn near First Bank in Agbor and overturned.
Firemen from both Delta state and federal authorities were mobilised to the scene, according to the director of the state fire service, Eugene Oziwele.
Oziwele also confirmed that the casualties were high, adding firemen from Asaba joined those in Agbor with others from the Federal Fire Service to put out the raging fire.
metro
Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs
Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs
The National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON) has disclosed plans to establish cattle ranches in the 774 local governments across Nigeria.
According to the National President of the cooperative, NAMCON, Dr Aliyu Waziri, the move is part of sustained efforts to modernise livestock production in the country, bolster value-addition and address the persistent clashes between farmers and herders.
He spoke with journalists in Kaduna adding that the ranches would be provided with adequate animal feeds, mega dams and an array of features of world-class equipment, thereby ensuring herders and their livestock have no cause to migrate in search of water and food.
READ ALSO:
- Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
- Police arrest 17 for killing suspected wizard, rescue kidnap victims
- Haaland scores twice as Man City hammer West Ham
He said the ranches would be adequately equipped with clinics, western and Islamic schools and other necessary infrastructure.
Waziri said, “These ranches will be fully equipped for both rainy and dry season farming activities for the sustained production of food as this is very crucial to boosting food security, jobs creation, poverty eradication and jerking off Nigeria’s foreign reserves.”
The ranches, he said, would also have plantations of various economic trees like mango, guava and cashew.
He said, “The gesture will also greatly help in combating the recurring herder-farmer clashes in the country.”
Waziri maintained that the goal of the cooperative was to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through mechanization and empowerment programs.
He recalled that in November 2021, NAMCON empowered 15 million farmers, especially women and young people, on farm mechanisation.
He then urged the government to explore the agricultural sector’s hidden potential to address unemployment and food security.
Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs
metro
Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has again raised concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed Tax Reform Bills, urging immediate suspension of the implementation and calling for extensive dialogue with stakeholders.
The forum criticized the government for failing to engage critical stakeholders and experts before drafting the reforms.
NEF expressed its position in a statement on Saturday signed by its Chairman of Management Board, Al-Amin Daggash, highlighting the reforms’ potential adverse effects on Northern Nigeria and the nation as a whole.
Daggash said: “Once again, it is necessary to reiterate, that indeed, Nigerians in general and Northerners in particular, are not really against the introduction of any form of good and meaningful reforms by those in positions of authority, at the federal, state or local government levels.
READ ALSO:
- Police arrest 17 for killing suspected wizard, rescue kidnap victims
- Haaland scores twice as Man City hammer West Ham
- China battles spike in new respiratory illness after COVID-19 pandemic
“Even though, we shall remain very implacable in reaffirming that, our practical experiences teach us, that, going by global best practices, successful reforms are known to be underpinned by strict adherence to certain common cardinal characteristics of the public policy-making process.
“For convenience of exposition, these similarities include, but, not limited to the under listed basic essentials: Extensive pre-reforms early engagements with experts and critical stakeholders, in order to secure their buy-in
“Establishing a very well-defined media/communication strategy, that clearly articulates the full import of the reforms and disseminates public awareness and mass enlightenment on a nationwide scale.
“Designing a robust, transparent and inclusive implementation mechanism. Pro-actively putting in place a well-sequenced process, in order to ensure that the meticulously planned reforms, really meet the society’s desired and anticipated outcomes.
“The Northern Elders’ Forum make bold to say that the recently proposed Tax Reform Bills by the Federal Government, were clearly in the breach, with regards to adhering to the above listed common characteristics of reforms and public policy-making process, all over the world and in conformity with the global best practices.”
Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
-
Business2 days agoMeta deletes AI accounts after backlash over posts
-
Business2 days agoPetrol price may crash to N500/litre, say marketers
-
metro2 days agoYouths beat Osun monarch for appointing Imam
-
metro3 days agoMosques should be research centres – Varsity don
-
Entertainment2 days agoKano suspends Kannywood actress over indecent dressing, provocative content
-
metro2 days agoYar’Adua stopped refinery sale to Dangote over due process, paltry amount – Falana replies Obasanjo
-
metro3 days agoEdo LG chairman, 8 councillors, defect to APC
-
metro3 days agoDrunk police officer ‘frees’ 13 suspects to celebrate new year