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Category: Kaduna Update

  • After Sacking El-Rufai’s Ally, Kaduna APC Appoints New Woman Leader

    After Sacking El-Rufai’s Ally, Kaduna APC Appoints New Woman Leader

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna State has announced the appointment of Naymarie Musa as the new Acting Woman Leader of the party, following the suspension of the previous office holder, Maryam Sulaiman.

    The change in leadership comes amid a backdrop of political controversy surrounding the state’s debt profile, which had been defended by Sulaiman in support of the immediate-past Governor Nasir El-Rufai administration.

    Musa steps into her new role with a wealth of experience from her previous position as Assistant Woman Leader of the ruling party in the State.

    Speaking to journalists at the party’s secretariat in Kaduna on Thursday, Musa expressed her eagerness to foster unity and strengthen the party’s position ahead of upcoming general elections.

    “I am deeply committed to serving the women of Kaduna State with dedication, integrity, and passion,” Musa stated. She outlined her vision for an inclusive administration, focusing on the interests of women and ensuring accountability and participation within the party’s ranks.

    “My duty and commitment is to consolidate on the ‘Sustain Agenda’ of Governor Uba Sani and to deliver effective leadership to achieve new developmental heights,” she added, emphasising the importance of prioritising women’s interests under her leadership.

  • Unrest In Kaduna As Police Clash With Shiites Protesters

    Unrest In Kaduna As Police Clash With Shiites Protesters

    In Kaduna State’s capital, Kaduna, tensions flared as police clashed with Shiite protesters, leading to a state of pandemonium and unrest. 

    The confrontation unfolded as members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) gathered for a procession near the Katsina roundabout along Ahmadu Bello Way. 

    Despite the Federal Government’s ban on the group’s activities, the protesters persisted, prompting a response from law enforcement. 

    Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos as police attempted to disperse the gathering, resulting in a frantic scramble among residents and shop owners to seek safety. 

    According to Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesperson, ASP Mansir Hassan, the IMN members allegedly brandished dangerous weapons and attacked both civilians and police officers. 

    Several individuals sustained injuries in the skirmish. 

    The police have since made arrests of suspects allegedly in possession of weapons and have vowed to prosecute them following investigations. 

  • Kaduna Governor, Sani Speaks On Gumi’s Involvement in School children’s Release

    Kaduna Governor, Sani Speaks On Gumi’s Involvement in School children’s Release

    The Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, on Sunday, revealed that Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, was not involved in the release of abducted Kuriga pupils.
    Sani revealed this days after Gumi offered to negotiate with bandits for the release of the pupils.

    The governor while speaking on Channels TV, said all the 137 schoolchildren abducted on March 7, 2024 from the Chikun Local Government Area of the state by bandits have been rescued by the military.

    According to Sani, the rescue mission was carried out by the military in collaboration with local authorities from neighbouring Zamfara State, where the hostages were moved by their kidnappers.

    The governor described as speculations, talks in some quarters that ransom was paid, stressing that Gumi was not involved in the rescue of the pupils.

    Sani said, “All those speculations you are hearing today are figment of some people’s imagination. I can tell you that without any fear of contradiction. There was nothing like Gumi in this operation. I can tell you. I won’t undermine the efforts of our Armed Forces.”

  • Terrorists Abduct 87 Persons In Kaduna

    Terrorists Abduct 87 Persons In Kaduna

    Suspected terrorists have abducted about 87 people in a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The latest attack was confirmed by a member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, on Monday.

    Harisu, said the terrorists stormed the village around 10 pm, breaking into some shops and stealing food items and other valuables.

    He explained that no contact has been established yet with the 87 locals abducted on Sunday night.

    “As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers.

    “The villagers are traumatized by the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists,” he said.

    The attack came barely two days after 15 women and a man were abducted in the Dogon-Noma community of the same local government.

    Kajuru and Chikun LGs had in the past two weeks become the hotbed of kidnapping, causing tension in the state.

    Recall that the terrorists had in two weeks kidnapped over 172 villagers in the area.

    However, the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan is yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.

  • Terrorists Launch Fresh Attack On Kaduna Community

    Terrorists Launch Fresh Attack On Kaduna Community

    Terrorists, on Saturday, launched a fresh attack on the Dogon-noma community in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The attack is coming barely three days after one person was killed, and eight women were kidnapped in the Banono Angwaku community of the same local government.

    A former chairman of the local government, Cafra Caino, confirmed the fresh attack to our correspondent on Saturday.

    According to him, the attackers invaded the village around 5.45am on Saturday in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately.

    Caino said, “We are yet to get the number of casualties because the locals ran for their lives at the time the assailants invaded the community.

    “The community had, some time in 2019, come under heavy attack where 74 people were killed and the community recently has been experiencing attacks.”

  • Bandits Invade Nigerian Mosque During Jumat Prayers, Kill Worshippers

    Bandits Invade Nigerian Mosque During Jumat Prayers, Kill Worshippers

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked a mosque at Anguwar Makera in Kwasakwasa community of Birnin Gwari local government area of Kaduna State.

    The bandits killed two worshippers during Friday’s Juma’at prayer.

    The incident happened around 2pm, according to locals in the area.

    A community leader, Hudu Kwasakwasa, who confirmed the incident, said the bandits opened fire on worshipers during the Juma’at prayer.

    “The two worshipers killed were among other Muslims attacked at the Juma’at Mosque in Angwar Makera when the bandits opened fire on them and abducted others today (Friday). The victims have been buried at Old Kuyello cemetery,” he said.

    He said the people were in the second raka’at of the salat when they were attacked, which forced other worshippers to run for their lives.

    He added that a few days ago, the same bandits abducted about nine people at a community called Angwar Kanawa under the same Kwasakwasa area.

    He appealed for help from authorities concerned, saying the bandits were raiding the communities unchallenged.

    The latest attack on the worshipers came less than 24 hours after bandits abducted over 287 students in the neighbouring Chikun local government area of the state on Thursday morning.

  • Kaduna Govt Begins Negotiations For Release of Abducted Pupils, Teachers

    Kaduna Govt Begins Negotiations For Release of Abducted Pupils, Teachers

    Kaduna State government has begun negotiations for the release of the recently abducted 287 pupils and teachers in the state.

    The pupils were abducted from the Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School, Kuriga 1, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 

    According to investigations carried out by Punch newspapers, a highly influential private negotiator who has been involved in negotiating several abductions with bandits in the past, has been contacted by the state government for the assignment. 

    A highly placed source in the Kaduna State Government House, who is close to the negotiations but pleaded anonymity due to security reasons, confided in newsmen said the state government had reached out to the bandits through a private negotiator (names withheld) for the release of the pupils and their teachers.

    The source said, “The military has begun combing the forests in search of the children kidnapped by the bandits. Security agents have cordoned off the area and they have started searching for the abducted pupils.

    “The government is doing all it can for the speedy release of the abducted school pupils.

    “The government has established contact and reached out to the bandits for negotiation through a popular bandit negotiator. The negotiator was the one who worked for the return of some of the students abducted some years back.

    “He (the negotiator) had negotiated the return of so many abductees in the past. He negotiated the return of those students abducted in Katsina State years back.”

    Two other government officials also confirmed the development secretly to newsmen, but insisted on not being identified because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

    They also refused to provide additional information as they insisted that doing so might frustrate the ongoing efforts to secure the victims’ release and put them in harm’s way.

    Bandits, on Thursday, shortly after the assembly gathering at around 8.30am, stormed the LEA Primary School, Kuriga, abducted the pupils and some staff members of the schools.

  • ‘Enough is Enough, Kidnappers deserve death penalty, Remi Tinubu fumes

    ‘Enough is Enough, Kidnappers deserve death penalty, Remi Tinubu fumes

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has said that anyone convicted of abduction deserves capital punishment.

    The first lady stated this in her reaction to the news of 200 women who were kidnapped in Borno State, and over 280 pupils and teachers kidnapped in Kaduna State.

    Remi Tinubu, also described kidnappers as cowards, saying “Whoever is kidnapping young people is sick, cruel, and a coward.

    “Enough is enough and I call on the state governors that once we take hold of them, they deserve capital punishment.

    “Why don’t they take people their size? Why are they torturing our children? What they are trying to do is kill our future.

    “We all know parents, when we are old we rely on our children.

    “Why would you go and take them from schools? Right now, I think enough is enough. As a former lawmaker, I believe that any one of them captured deserves capital punishment.

    “They (kidnappers) are animals, they are evil and we should take them out of our midst.

    “The state governors and the lawmakers should do something.”

    Recall that about 200 women were reportedly kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in the Gamboru-Ngala and Dikwa local government areas of Borno State.

    The women, who were Internally Displaced Persons, were said to have been kidnapped while they went into the bush in search of firewood.

    Also, over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary school at Kuriga, Kaduna State were abducted by bandits on Thursday, triggering national outrage.

    The bandits reportedly invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

  • Police Give Update On Kidnap Of 287 Kaduna Students By Bandits

    Police Give Update On Kidnap Of 287 Kaduna Students By Bandits

    The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has assured that the 287 students kidnapped from a school in Kaduna would be rescued.

    The spokesperson of the Command, Mansir Hassan, gave the assurance while reacting to the unfortunate incident.

    It would be recalled that not less than 287 students from the LEA Primary and Secondary School in Kuriga, Kaduna State, were kidnapped on Thursday when bandits attacked the school premises.

    Reacting to the development, the Kaduna Police spokesperson said operatives have been deployed and are combing the bushes to rescue the victims.

    ”I’m attending a security meeting, but the police tactical team has been deployed to go after the criminals by combing the bushes to rescue the victims,” he said, as quoted by Vanguard.

    Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has vowed that all efforts would be put in place to ensure the students return home safely.

  • Bandits Invade Kaduna Primary School, Kidnap Scores Of Students

    Bandits Invade Kaduna Primary School, Kidnap Scores Of Students

    Chaos ensued in Kuriga town, Kaduna State, unknown gunmen stormed LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1) on Thursday, kidnapping numerous students.

    Although the exact number of abducted individuals remains unverified, local residents estimated it to be around 100.

    The victims reportedly included the head teacher of the school and some other staff members.

    The incident occurred at 8:20 am immediately after the morning assembly, leaving the school community in shock and distress.

    It was revealed that most pupils managed to flee from their classes upon sighting the armed bandits on the school premises.

    The LEA Primary School, Kuriga (1), relocated its junior and secondary sections to the town’s inner building a few years ago due to security concerns, abandoning the former school building outside the city.

    A resident named Shitu confirmed the abduction, saying that many pupils fled their classes upon realizing the presence of bandits.

    Another resident, Lawal Kuriga, mentioned that the kidnapped victims were forcefully taken into the nearby forest.

    As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from the state government.