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Category: Zamfara Update

  • Zamfara Government Bans Political Officers, Civil Servants From Granting Radio, TV Interviews

    Zamfara Government Bans Political Officers, Civil Servants From Granting Radio, TV Interviews

    The government of Zamfara State has implemented a ban on political office holders and agency heads, prohibiting them from engaging in interviews, issuing statements, or broadcasting programs on radio, television, or social media without prior authorization. 

    Media organizations within the state are also cautioned against airing any programs without approval from the Ministry of Information. 

    The Commissioner of Information, Mannir Haidara, emphasized the ministry’s dedication to overseeing compliance with these regulations, ensuring accurate dissemination of government policies and information through radio stations.

    The statement reads: “The Zamfara state government has observed with dismay the attitudes of some individuals, political groups and heads of MDAs towards conducting radio, television stations and social media platforms interviews and programmes on state government’s policies and programmes without following the right channels”.

    “In an effort to checkmate the unwanted behaviour, the Zamfara state Ministry of Information and Culture hereby announce that henceforth no political office holder, group or head of any agencies is allowed to conduct any interview, issue statement or air a programme on radio, television stations or social media without seeking a permission from the authority”.

    “Moreover, the Ministry of Information and Culture is hereby calling on the media organisations based in the state to desist from conducting or airing any radio or television programmes on government’s policies for any individuals or group of people without the approval of the supervising Ministry or the Ministry of Information“.

    “The information ministry is highly committed to observing and monitoring the radio stations for compliance and ensuring that all Information passed to the general public on government and its policies are true and properly disseminated”.

  • Bandits Attack Zamfara Mosque During Prayers, Kidnap Worshippers

    Bandits Attack Zamfara Mosque During Prayers, Kidnap Worshippers

    Bandits on Monday night, struck at a mosque in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, abducting numerous worshippers during the Tahajjud congregational prayer.

    Tahajjud prayer is a vigil normally held in the last 10 days of Ramadan preceeding Eid-el-Ftr.

    According to a source, Mannir, the attackers stormed the mosque during the night prayer and kidnapped the worshippers

    Mannir, however, expressed uncertainty about the exact number of persons taken as captives.

    “While the number of abducted individuals remains unconfirmed, authorities are actively pursuing the assailants,” Mannir added.

    As at the time of this report, no ransom demand has been made, and no group has claimed responsibility for the audacious attack, adding to the prevailing sense of insecurity in the North-West.

  • Bandits Invade Nigerian Mosque, Kidnap Worshippers

    Bandits Invade Nigerian Mosque, Kidnap Worshippers

    Bandits have abducted about 30 worshippers in one of the mosques in Tsafe town, the headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    The bandits invaded the mosque around 5 a.m. on Thursday when the people were about to start the morning prayer.

    ”We were about to start the morning prayer today, Thursday when suddenly they (bandits) entered into the mosque and directed everybody to go out and follow them.

    “Everybody scampered for safety but the bandits blocked everywhere and warned us that they would kill anybody who tried to run away.

    “I was able to jump out of the window and ran quickly into one of the uncompleted buildings near the mosque where I hid myself”, an eyewitness, Garba said.

    Garba maintained that the bandits left their motorcycles far away from the mosque so that the worshippers would not notice their movement.

    “They came on foot, leaving their motorcycles outside the town so that they would not attract the attention of the people of the area.

    “They later marched the worshippers to their motorcycles and took them to the forest,” he added.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court Affirms Lawal’s Election As Zamfara Governor 

    BREAKING: Supreme Court Affirms Lawal’s Election As Zamfara Governor 

    The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Dauda Lawal as the duly elected Governor of Zamfara state.

    Justice Emmanuel Agim, who delivered the lead judgment, criticized the Court of Appeal’s earlier decision, describing it as “perverse.”

    Justice Agim emphasized that the allegations of over-voting failed to stand as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not provide essential documents such as the voter register, polling unit officer report, and eyewitness testimony.

    The judge highlighted that BVAS machines alone could not establish electoral malpractices, and the petitioner, Mr Matawalle, did not provide sufficient evidence to support his claims.

    “The court is of the view that the tribunal was right. The judgment of the Court of Appeal was perverse because the petitioner failed woefully to prove his allegations,” declared Justice Agim.

  • Zamfara airlifts 2500 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia

    The Zamfara Hajj Commission has airlifted 2,500 out of the 3,100 intending pilgrims from the state to Saudi Arabia in six flights.

    The Secretary of the commission, Alhaji Anas Shuaibu, confirmed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Gusau, after releasing six flights to Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto.

    Shuaibu said the commission had secured Visas for all the 3,100 state intending pilgrims, adding that the remaining pilgrims will soon be airlift to the holy land for the exercise.

    He also said that the state government had sensitised the pilgrims on what was expected of them during the pilgrimage.

    The secretary further explained that each flight consisted of Hajj officials from the state, medical personnel, scholars and other stakeholders, and each pilgrim had been vaccinated while females were tested for pregnancy before their departure.

    According to him, Federal Government agencies, including NDLEA, Immigration and Customs, have also educated the pilgrims on dangers attached to carrying prohibited items.

    He however disclosed that only one woman had been sent back to Nigeria based on Passport issue, but she had returned to Madinah for the exercise after resolving her challenge.

    He urged the intending pilgrims to fear Allah in all their dealings while in the holy land and beyond.

    Shuaibu explained that the state government had put everything in place to ensure safety, comfort and welfare of the pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in which decent accommodation was secured in Madinah and Makkah.

    He therefore called on the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state and the country by avoiding any act that could tarnish their image and that of the nation.

    Shuaibu said their current challenge was the hike in petroleum price as they had to transport the pilgrims from Gusau to Sokoto because of the absence of an airport in the state.

    The scribe commended the efforts of the state government along with security agencies, first aid groups, individuals and other organisations for their support and cooperation towards ensuring a successful Hajj operation.

    The six flights were recorded on Thursday.