Boko Haram terrorists group have claimed responsibility for the Kankara abduction in a new video.
The new video obtained by the BBC saw the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau saying his members were responsible for the abduction of the school children.
According to BBC Hausa reports, the four minutes video was released three days after over 500 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State were taken captive.
The BBC report disclosed that the state government had earlier hinted that bandits were responsible for the abduction and they have contacted the government.
The report also quoted the state governor, Aminu Masari to have told President Muhammadu Buhari that his government is in talks with the bandits.
“He also briefed the president on the efforts being made by his government and security operatives to rescue the kidnapped students,” the report stated.
However, with the new twist of events, the BBC report said a new dimension has been introduced in the kidnap saga.
There seems to be no end in sight in resolving the trade dispute between the Federal Government and the Acedemic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU as a meeting earlier rescheduled for today has been cancelled.
The meeting, convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, was to address issues that had prolonged the strike, and paralyzed acedemic activities in the nation’s universities.
The meeting was earlier scheduled to hold last week but it was postponed following a misunderstanding between the parties.
The nine-month-old strike, had been compounded by the introduction of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).
Charles Akpan, the spokesman of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who disclosed the cancellation via a short message did not state why the meeting was cancelled.
He wrote, “Good morning colleagues. Please note that the meeting with ASUU earlier scheduled for today is cancelled.”
… Asks military to occupy Lake Chad … Says news is when no one is killed in a day
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, and Co-Chairman National Council of Traditional Rulers has led his colleagues from the southern and northern parts of the country to meet Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in Maiduguri.
The Sultan, on Monday, led Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemaka Alfred Ugochukwu, Oba Adekunle Adebayo, Ore of Otin, Emir of Hadeja, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Maje, Emir of Fika, Mohammed Abale Ibn Mohammed Idrissa, Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Dr. Dandasen Douglas Jaja, on condolence visit to government and people of Borno State over the recent killings in the state.
Sultan Abubakar who retired as army General called on the Nigerian Military to occupy Lake Chad region and the Sambisa forest.
“I read about the comment the Governor made some few weeks ago, challenging the military to take the fight to the Lake Chad to clear that place. Your Excellency while I was a Lieutenant, I was at Lake Chad in Baga for six months, my battalion in Bama used to rotate with the battalion in Monguno and Maiduguri every six months. We occupied Nigeria part of Lake Chad for six months. I was a Lieutenant, I was the operation officer and I have my maps. In Lake Chad that time we had 36 islands under Nigeria, we occupied 16 of them, the biggest was king Nasara, we controlled that part of Nigeria effectively well as a battalion. Now I don’t know why we can’t occupy the whole of Lake Chad and why we can’t occupy the whole of Sambisa forest. If we want peace we have to dominate these areas. If we want peace, we have to do away with those terrorists who occupy that place and see nothing good in other people except those that believe in their own negative ideas”, the Sultan said.
Sultan Abubakar also said, they were in Maiduguri not only to commiserate with the Governor but to make a strong statement with regards to the insecurity affecting the entire nation.
“This afternoon we are at the seat of power of Borno State, in front of the Governor on this special visit, I said special because this is the first time the national council of traditional rulers of Nigeria has ventured out to any state or any town specifically to discuss or talk about the happenings in that particular place as regards insecurity and mass killing of innocent people”, Sultan Abubakar bsaid.
He also said, “The National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria deem it fit to put a small team to come round to Borno State, Maiduguri in particular, to make this very strong statement.”
“It is not just a condolence visit, it is a statement that all of us are fed up with the shading of innocent blood in whatever guise across this country. So many lives have been lost in the past, we can’t even compute how many lives we have lost. It becomes like a daily occurrence, a daily event. A new normal, it becomes a story when in a day nobody was killed in a particular place of this country”.
“We had, at various fora with our political leaders, mentioned this things out, how to take care of our security operatives in various communities. We have written papers, sent our Governors, we have discussed with all our leaders, all the way forward. But we see things getting worse and worse. It used to be Boko Haram alone in Borno and Yobe, now in all over the north in particular and generally all over the country. You have bandits and terrorists all over the north, you can’t even move freely, in the south it is the same thing. The killings have taken new dimensions and we really don’t know what are the causes of this mass killings of innocent people.”
“We decided to come together as council of traditional rulers to make this statement to all and sundry, not only to the Governor of Borno State but to all our Governors. Let’s rise up to the occasion and see how we can come together to fight this menace of shading innocent blood.”
“When I came to Maiduguri last time to commission the central mosque, the Governor was a candidate, this is my first time of coming when he has taken over, Alhamdulillah we have been following with keen interest what is happening in Borno State, like I always discussed with the Shehu, from day one, even when you were not even sworn in, he told me the type of person you are, and we are not disappointed when you started doing what you are doing. We have seen the very big stride you have delivered just within one year, but you are just starting, you have a lot to do.”
“I have known Maiduguri since when i was a small kid, we have grown up here. I served in Bama, I lived in Bama for over two and half years in the barrack. The same barrack I served as Lieutenant was the same barrack vandalized and bombed.”
Before the Sultan spoke, the Shehu of Borno introduced the traditional rulers to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, noting that the traditional rulers will give all the maximum cooperation to security agencies in the fight against insurgency.
The Shehu also called on the people of Borno to continue to provide credible intelligence to the military, noting that the fight against insurgency is a collective responsibility.
On his part, Governor Zulum thanked the royal fathers for the special visit.
Commenting on the impact of the insurgency, the governor decried the continuous dependence on donations to feed IDPs as the main source of livelihood.
The Governor said, to address the cause of the insecurity, there was need to provide sources of livelihood to the IDPs and those resettled in rebuilt communities.
The troops of Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army have successfully repelled an attack on Askira, the headquarters of Askira/ Uba local council of Borno state in which over 20bokoharam terrorists were killed and recovered 4gun trucks,anti aircraft guns,arms and ammunitions with several others destroyed.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Col Ado Isa,narrating that, “on the 12th of December 2020, gallant troops of 28 Task Force Brigade of Sector 1 Operation LAFIYA DOLE inflicted heavy casualties on Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) that attempted to attack Askira Uba in Borno State. The terrorists,according to the Army,were suspected to have come from Sambisa Forest, mounted on over 15 gun trucks and approached the town from different directions simultaneously. Troops responded and engaged the criminals with superior fire power.”.
“Consequently, the terrorists suffered huge losses both in men, materials and equipment. Specifically, the troops captured 4 gun trucks from the criminals while some additional gun trucks were also destroyed by the Air Task Force that responded swiftly. Scores of the terrorists were killed and over 20 terrorists dead bodies were counted. Additionally, 3 boxer motorcycles, 3 Anti Aircraft Guns, 2 PKT Machine Guns, 10 AK 47 Rifles and 13 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Bombs as well as large cache of ammunition and other weapons were captured from the terrorists among others,” the statement added.
Col Isa further said “unfortunately, one soldier paid the supreme sacrifice and two others were wounded during the encounter and are stable/responding to treatment”. The Army assured the general public that the troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE under the guidance of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen TY Buratai, will continue to sustain the aggressive, offensive posture to rid the entire North East of remnants of Boko Haram/ISWAP criminals, rapists and marauders.
The Sultan of Sokoto and Co-Chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers, Sa’ad Abubakar, has asked the military to occupy Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region housing Boko Haram insurgents.
He lamented that insecurity is getting worse in the country.
Speaking on Monday, Sultan, who led other top monarchs to Maiduguri to condole with the government and people of Borno State on the recent killing of farmers by Boko Haram at a rice field in Zabarmari, said the military should occupy the Lake Chad region and the Sambisa forest.
Sultan Abubakar said they were in Maiduguri not only to commiserate with the governor but to make a strong statement with regards to the insecurity affecting the entire nation.
He said, “It is not just a condolence visit, it is a statement that all of us are fed up with the shedding of innocent blood under whatever guise across this country. So many lives have been lost in the past, we can’t even compute how many lives we have lost. It becomes like a daily occurrence, a daily event. A new normal, it becomes a story when in a day, nobody was killed in a particular place of this country.
“We had various fora with our political leaders, mentioned these things out, how to take care of our security in various communities. We have written papers, sent our governors, we have discussed with all our leaders, all the way forward.
“But we see things getting worse and worse. It used to be Boko Haram alone in Borno and Yobe, now, in all over the north in particular and generally all over the country. You have bandits and terrorists all over the north, you can’t even move freely. In the south, it is the same thing. The killings have taken new dimensions and we really don’t know what are the causes of these mass killings of innocent people.
“We decided to come together as the council of traditional rulers to make this statement to all and sundry, not only to the governor of Borno State, but to all our governors. Let’s rise up to the occasion and see how we can come together to fight this menace of shedding innocent people’s blood.”
Responding, the governor thanked the royal fathers for the special visit.
The governor decried the continuous dependence on donations to feed the internally displaced persons as the main source of livelihood
A group under the aegis of Akwa Ibom Concerned Youths have expressed disappointment over comments credited to Omoyele Sowore that Governor Udom Emmanuel influenced the suspension of a student of the state University.
The student, Iniobong Ekpo was suspended over a Facebook comment he made criticizing Emmanuel’s administration.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday endorsed by its chairman, Victor Ekwong, the group accused the former Presidential candidate of blackmailing the governor.
The group said that although Akwa Ibom State University is State-owned, every Institution of higher learning, such as the Akwa Ibom State University, is run by a Governing Council or the Senate and also by rules and regulations.
“The fact that he directly links the Governor Udom Emmanuel to whatever happened in the Institution, is a direct testimony to the fact that he is a confirmed case of schizophrenia. He is not to be taken serious by any sane human.
“Academic certificates are issued to those who have been found worthy “In CHARACTER and in LEARNING”, little wonder Sowore was twice expelled, because, CHARACTER and LEARNING are two areas he is clearly found wanting.
“May we remind Omoyele that it amounts to blackmail and criminal defamation of character to call a man a thief without proofs. Omoyele should also be reminded that pulling down leaders will NEVER make him one, his closest call to leadership will be to lead a group of hoodlums and evil minded people like himself.
“Activism is a noble course, mixing it with hooliganism will only take Nigeria backward, little wonder he was rejected and chased away by responsible #EndSars protesters when he wanted to hijack the protest for his selfish ends and continuous clout chasing.
“Sowore has no place in the committee of responsible Nigerians and especially the youths which we will continue to remind him this fact.” The statement said.
The group maintained that the governor has devoted the uppermost echelon of his career in one of Nigeria’s biggest banks to the progress of Akwa Ibom and would not accept any form of blackmail against the sterling career of the Governor.
“Finally, Omoyele, be reminded that Akwa Ibom no be Lagos, Akwa Ibom youths therefore use this channel to demand an unreserved, public apology from Omoyele Sowore within the 7 days from today, else, we will leave no stone unturned legally to ensuring that Sowore is disposed off as the thrash that he is.” It said.
Recently in Nasarawa, cases of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery activities are on the increase, hence the need to create an enabling environment free from this vises for people in the state becomes necessary as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, trains 503 constables to serve as Special Community Policing across the 13 local government areas of the state.
Assistant Inspector General AIG, in charge of zone 4, Mr. Jonah John-Mava, stated this while addressing some stakeholders and the new recruits at a one day sensitization and awareness campaign programme held at city hall Lafia, Nasarawa state capital Monday.
He stressed that a number of 49 special constables has successfully graduated from the training in Makurdi, the Benue state capital while the remaining 454 are currently undergoing training. According to him, some of the Special Community Policing have successful completed their training and posted to their various areas of responsibilities while commending governor Abdullahi Sule for supporting the Nigerian Police.
Earlier, flagging off the sensitization and awareness campaign, Engr. Abdulahi Sule represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe added that the aim of the programme is to enlightene members of the public on the significant of security with a view to sustain the programme, and collaboration of all and sundry in addressing crime related issues in the state.
Dr. Akabe said the feat is for the entire development of socio – economy activities to strive in the state, adding that in achieving it all hands must be on deck in cooperation with security agencies to fight criminal elements.
In his word “i want to use this medium to urge members of the public to support the community policing. This will go a long way in fighting crime and criminality in the state and paving way for our social economy activities to strive.”
On his part, state commissioner of police, Mr. Bola Longe, stressed the state command is committed towards ensuring that criminal elements in the state will not over whelm the police adding that adequate efforts are been made to fish out all criminal elements in the state and the command will not relent in the fight against kidnappings, Banditry and all other crimes in the state.
The Nigerian Army on Monday December 14, confirmed that 333 students are still missing after bandits attacked Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina on Friday night.
Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche corroborated the figure earlier released by the Katsina State Government while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Eneche said;
“The principal reported that he had 839 in the boarding house; and as at the time they were abducted, shortly after that, some came back and it was about five hundred plus that did not return.
“As at 2 pm yesterday (Sunday), the students that could not be accounted for reduced to 333. Out of that 333, before I came into the studio, one escaped out of wherever they kept them.”
Eneche also gave an insight on how the students were moved from the school. According to the Defence Spokesperson, the abductors used motorcycles to ferry the schoolchildren into the bush from where some of the students escaped.
He said;
“That is their usual characteristics – those abductors.
“It is the same system; the same approach they used. There was no evidence, no information about them using other modes of transport.”
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has approved stringent sanctions against candidates, supervisors, and schools involved in examination malpractice.
A statement from the acting Head of Public Affairs at the WAEC office in Yaba, Demianus Ojijeogu, noted that the approval was made at the 70th meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) of the council held from Thursday to Saturday last week in Lagos.
In the course of considering the various reported cases of malpractice and after diligent deliberations, the committee approved appropriate sanctions in all established cases of malpractice, as prescribed by the Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of WAEC examinations.
It approved that the entire results of candidates involved in proven cases, which attracted Cancellation of Entire Results (CER), be cancelled, while subject results of those involved in proven cases, which attracted Cancellation of Subject Results (CSR), be also cancelled.
According to the council, some candidates will suffer other sanctions such as barring them from sitting for the WAEC examinations for a certain number of years, and some schools will be derecognised for a specified number of years or have their recognition completely withdrawn.
It added that supervisors found wanting in the discharge of their examination duties would be formally reported to their employers and blacklisted while some invigilators would be reported to the appropriate authorities for disciplinary action.
“The decisions of the committee will be implemented without delay and the affected candidates and schools duly informed by the Council.
“However, the results of candidates who were exonerated by the committee would be released,” the statement said.
The committee, which is the highest decision-making organ of WAEC on examination-related matters in Nigeria, meets twice a year to consider matters relating to the conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates and private candidates.
Its statutory Chairman is the Chief Government Nominee on Council and Director of Basic and Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja.
At the meeting, the committee also considered special cases, clemency appeals from WASSCE for school candidates in 2020, and restitution cases for various years.
It received a report on the statistics of entries and results for WASSCE for private candidates (2019-second series), and WASSCE for private candidates (2020-first series).
Anti drugs abuse NGO, Eye Opener Youths and Women Foundation, has taken campaign and fight against drugs and substance abuse to the Women wings of the Ngas Development Association (NDA) kaduna state chapter. The foundation, charged with the responsibility of canvassing against drugs and substance abuse and addictions among youths was at the 2020 Women fellowship and prayers of the association held at COCIN Church in Narayi area of kaduna state.
Speaking to journalists during the end of the year prayers of NDA Women unit, the president and founder of Eye opener foundation Mrs Margret Julius said women are the bedrock of every decent society because of their closeness to children.
Mrs Julius said she took advantage of her guardian and the leader of Barnawa unit of her foundation, who are Ngas by tribes to gain access to the fellowship to informed the women about their roles as parents in preventing their children from drug abuse. “We believe that as men and women, parents have a role to play in ensuring that the young people are prevented from drugs and substance abuse and addictions”, she said.
Parents, she noted could be responsible for their children’s indulgence in drugs Abuse, adding that improper home training, upbringing and poor clossness and relationship with children by parents could create room for drugs Abuse.
She narrated story of a mother who consistently insulted z daughter of her how ugly is her face and how the insult affected the girl child psychologically and led to psychiatric hospital for treatment.
Earlier, the state coordinator of NDA women wing, Mrs. Gormwa Solomon Gotus, said members used the fellowship for prayed God for saving their lives, prevent them from enemies, safe their country from bad things like Covid-19, terrorism, bandits and not to allowed such things extended to 2021, as well as for development.
According her, the meeting held every end of the year with prayers, also sensitized their members on how to prevent their children from drugs abuse, assisted one another to remain productive and contributory to family growth.
A former women leader of the association Lucy Simon said they used the fellowship to empower Ngas women with the little contribution made and ensured that non of their Women in kaduna is lazy doing nothing. “We’re also here to seek the glory of God in prayers for what He has done for us and our families over the past days, months and years. Also speaking, the leader of entire Ngas in kaduna state, Rin Ngas Kaduna, Major Gotep Goar Pankshin (rtd), and the Vice Chairman, Ngas Development Association (NDA), Mr Nentawe Gomiyar said they were at the venue to support and commend the effort of women folk for their wisdom and spiritual knowledge for praying to God for Security of their people.
