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Tag: Niger

  • Security: Bello commends FCT joint efforts with Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi as effective

    Security: Bello commends FCT joint efforts with Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi as effective

    …as INEC says 546 polling units with over 1,000 registered voters
    …593 polling units without registered voters in FCT

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello has commended the joint efforts of the FCT with neighbouring states like Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi as very effective for the security of the territory.
    Bello said this today in Abuja at the FCTA Expanded Stakeholders Meeting on Security matters.
    The minister who noted that the meeting which is the first in 2022, brought all the 17 graded chiefs in the territory to reviewed the 2021 and look at focus for 2022.

    He said, ” In our reviewed we found out that the collaborative security efforts with neighboring states of the FCT is very effective.

    ” And this is one aspect that we will continue to improve upon because that is where all the security agencies within the FCT and their counterpart in neighboring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi work together.”

    ” Overall also we appreciated the efforts of all the agencies and in spite of what happened here and there within the rural communities we are quite satisfied with the efforts.”

    The minister promised that the Administration has also identified and would support other areas in need of additional support.

    Meanwhile the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu has revealed that ahead of the February 12 Area Council election there are 593 polling units in FCT without registered voters, 1,328 polling units with between 0-50 voters and 546 polling units with over 1,000 registered voters.

    Yakubu revealed this today at the Federal Capital Territory Expanded Stakeholders Security meeting organised by the FCT Administration in Abuja.

    He said that INEC had decided that no election would take place at the polling units without registered voters, adding that no materials have been produced for those units and no personnel would be deployed to them.

    The INEC Chairman however assured that voting would take place in all the other polling units, noting in congested polling units, INEC would deploy more than one Biomodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, to facilitate a speedy accreditation of voters.

    He also said that INEC would deploy additional staff to those locations, stressing that the commission has agreed with the security agencies to deploy more personnel to ensure peace and order.

    According to him, for transparency, the commission is making the hard copies of the details locations to these polling units to all stakeholders at this meeting.

    ” In addition, soft copies have also been uploaded to our website. By doing, so, we want to achieve two objectives.”

    ” First is to ensure that voters in the FCT and indeed all Nigerians are aware of these polling units and the arrangements made for them on election day.”

    ” Secondly, to seek the support of all stakeholders to ensure that these polling units are populated ahead of the 2023 general election.”

    He implored the support of traditional, community and religious leaders in the forthcoming election.

    Yakubu, who reiterated the importance of peace to the successful conduct of the area council elections, assured that INEC would protect the integrity of the process.

    ” Our eyes are on all our officials, be they adhoc or regular staff, to ensure that they strictly abide by the rules. All parties, candidates and their supporters should do the same, he emphasized.

    Daybreak reports that INEC boss was invited to the meeting by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to enable him brief FCT stakeholders on preparations for the Area Councils Election slated for Feb. 12.

  • Army blames poor telecom network, bad roads, for bandits killings in Zamfara, Niger

    Army blames poor telecom network, bad roads, for bandits killings in Zamfara, Niger

    The Nigerian Army has blames poor telecommunications network, bad roads and vast landmass for attacks and killings by bandits in parts of Zamfara and Niger States in recent times.

    The Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor, who made this known on Friday while briefing journalists on the progress of the fight against terrorism in Abuja, blamed the attacks on “poor road networks, communication infrastructure and the vastness of the affected communities.”

    The Army spokesman, however, gave the assurance that the “military had taken the obvious facts into perspective, and had deployed troops to address the situation.”

    “The military has appropriately deployed troops to deal with the situation on the ground but you must understand these areas are vast.

    “If you put the whole of the South-East inside Niger State, it would swallow it. When they tell you they moved from a place and went to cause havoc at another, if you don’t know how large this expanse of land is, you would think it is something you can easily block and neutralise them.

    “Also, the roads in these areas are very poor, and the communication infrastructure is also poor. Before we get information on the havoc wreaked by these terrorists, it takes two to three days.
    “The road infrastructure to respond is terrible. We have taken everything into perspective and we are working very hard to ensure that no Nigerian suffers undue threat to life and properties.

    “A lot is happening in these states. That is why the heat is on them and they are running from their comfort zone. It means they would not have food and resources wherever they are running to.
    “Therefore, they would pounce on villages along the way.

    It is unfortunate; we are carrying out a pursuit on them. Very soon, even the forests would not be a safe haven for them,“ Akpor said.

    In the past few weeks, bandits fleeing from military onslaught have continued to cause havoc in several communities.
    Early in January, the bandits laid siege to about 10 communities in Zamfara where they unleashed a reign of terror over three days, killing more than 200 innocent people.

    Niger State was also not spared as over 300 people were killed and about 200 abducted in 50 attacks within a space of three weeks, as confirmed by Governor Abubakar Bello.

  • Niger, Togo, Benin failed to pay FG N770m electricity bill in Q2 2021 – NERC

    Niger, Togo, Benin failed to pay FG N770m electricity bill in Q2 2021 – NERC

    The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says the Republic of Benin, Niger Republic, Togo made no payment for the electricity supplied to them from Nigeria in the second quarter of 2021.

    The commission disclosed this in its second-quarter report for 2021.

    The report stated the neighbouring countries and other special customers were issued a total bill of N770 million by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading company and the Market Operator of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

    “During the quarter under review, NBET and MO issued a total of N0.77bn in respect of energy sold by NBET and services rendered by MO to the special (Ajaokuta Steel Co. Ltd and other bilateral customers) and international customers (Societe Nigerienne d’electricite – NIGELEC, Societe Beninoise d’Energie Electrique – SBEE and Compagnie Energie Electrique du Togo– CEET),” the report said.

    “No payment was made by these customers during the quarter under review.

    “It is hoped that as the economy of these customers improves post-COVID-19 lockdown so that they will resume the settlement of their bills in full.”

    According to NERC, apart from Eko Disco, none of the other Discos met their expected minimum remittance thresholds to NBET in the quarter under review.

    “During the second quarter of 2021, a total invoice of N259.7 billion was issued to the eleven Discos for energy received from the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and for service charge by MO, out of which a sum of N130.11 billion was settled, representing remittance performance of 50.11 percent.

    “This represents a 1.78 percentage point decrease from the final settlement rate recorded in the first quarter of 2021.

    “Apart from Eko Disco, none of the other DisCos met their expected minimum remittance thresholds (“MRTs”) to NBET in the quarter under review. Overall, the total Disco remittance to NBET was 76 percent of the expected total for the quarter.”

    The report also stated that the average aggregate remittance performances to MO and NBET decreased by 1.78 percent points from 51.88 percent in the first quarter of 2021 to 50.1 percent in the second quarter.

    “Discos remittance performance level ranged from 10.51 percent (Yola) to 63.69 percent (Eko) for NBET and 28.76 percent (Yola) to 99.88 percent (Eko) for MO.

    “Ikeja recorded zero remittance to MO in the months of May and June 2021 as they wait to resolve Service Level Agreement dispute.” the report stated

    On commercial performance, the report stated that the total billing to and collection from electricity consumers by all the 11 Discos stood at N268.97 billion and N185.29billion respectively during the quarter under review, implying a collection efficiency of 68.89 percent.

  • Nine worshippers killed as gunmen attack mosque in Niger

    Nine worshippers killed as gunmen attack mosque in Niger

    Nine worshippers have been killed by gunmen in an attack on a mosque at Tungan Ba’are village in Mashegu LGA of Niger state.

    According to the Niger police command, six other people were injured in the attack that took place on Thursday.

    Monday-Bala Kuryas, commissioner of police in the state, said the worshippers were killed during morning prayer.

    He said a primary school teacher was also abducted by the gunmen, adding that those killed were between the ages of 30 and 65.

    The police commissioner said the six injured persons have been moved to the Kontagora General hospital for treatment.

    “We can’t ascertain the number of victims kidnapped, as only one primary school teacher of Tungan Ba’are was revealed to be kidnapped by the armed gunmen during the incident,” he added.

    According to the commissioner, the incident might be a reprisal attack resulting from a long-standing communal feud.

    He said additional armed security agents have been deployed to the area to track and arrest the gunmen and all other miscreants “undermining peaceful coexistence among the residents”.

    Kuryas urged the people to support security agencies with credible information on the activities of criminals around them.

    In October, some worshippers were killed when gunmen invaded a mosque at Mazukaka village in the same LGA of the state.

    The gunmen also abducted seven other worshippers from the mosque.

  • APC Chairman kidnapped in Niger

    APC Chairman kidnapped in Niger

    By Samuel Itsede

    The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Zone ‘C’, Aminu Bobi, has been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen in Mariga local government area of Niger state.

    It was gathered that Bobi was abducted Saturday evening while he was on his farm supervising farmhands working for him.

    A source close to the victim said the gunmen invaded the farm on six motorcycles, with each motorcycle carrying three people shooting sporadically.

    He said the APC Zonal Chairman was the only one who was abducted by the bandits as none of the Labourers were abducted.

    Attempt to confirm the incident from the police was unsuccessful as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached as at the time of filing this report.

  • JUST IN: Medical Doctor Shot Dead In Niger

    JUST IN: Medical Doctor Shot Dead In Niger

    A medical doctor has been shot dead in Salka village, Magama Local Government Area of Niger State.

    It was gathered that the victim was attacked in his clinic by bandits numbering about five.

    Neighbours in the town said one of the killers entered the clinic and demanded to see the doctor whom he took to an unknown destination.

    One of the victim’s neighbours said, “When they took the Doctor away, we reported to the police and the local vigilante. The vigilante later called us the following day that they have seen a corpse inside the bush and we were able to identify that of the doctor.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger state command, DSP Abiodun Wasiu, could not be reached for reaction at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Niger state President, Chief Emmanuel Ezeugo, confirmed the murder of the victim identified as Precious Emeka Chinedu.

    Ezeugo however added that, ‘Igbo community are investigating the death of the doctor.

    The Ohaneze President appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to order an investigation into recent deaths.

  • Armed Bandits kidnap District Head, Two wives in Niger

    Armed Bandits kidnap District Head, Two wives in Niger

    as expatriates abandon Zungeru Hydro Dam

    The District Head of the ancient city of Zungeru in Wushishi Local Government area, of Niger State, Mallam Mustapha Madaki, (Madakin Zungeru), and his two wives have allegedly been abducted by armed bandits.

    It was learnt the community leader and his two wives were taken to an unknown location.

    Reports gathered that gunmen numbering about 20, arrived Zungeru at about 1:40am on Sunday and headed to the house of the Madakin Zungeru which is located in the heart of the town.

    They were said to have captured him from the room of one of the wives, Habiba and carried him away alongside his two wives.

    A source from the area told our Reporter that the bandits arrived in the area and went straight to the Madaki’s house and carried only him and his wives.

    The source explained, “the attack from what we saw was carried out through an informant as it was only the district head and his wives that were abducted from the town in an operation that lasted only 30 minutes without any resistance from anywhere”

    “The gunmen parked their motorcycles about 500 meters away and walked on foot into Zungeru to attack the town.”

    It was also gathered that the bandits have not contacted the relations of the victims.

    Reports had it that before the attack on Sunday, all expatriates working on the 700 Megawatt Zungeru hydro dam, Messrs CNEEC-Sino hydro abandoned the site.

    They were allegedly escorted out of the state under heavy security on Saturday morning.

    Zungeru town is about 30 kilometres from Tegina, where the 136 pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamic school were abducted last Sunday.

    Efforts to get a reaction from the State Police Command failed as the Public Relations Officer, PRO, DSP Wasiu Abiodun could not be reached as of press time.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen Assassinate NECO Registrar in Niger

    BREAKING: Gunmen Assassinate NECO Registrar in Niger

    Gunmen suspected to be assassins have killed the Registrar of the National Examinations Council, Professor Godswill Obioma.

    Obioma was killed on Monday night when the hoodlums stormed his Minna residence in the Niger State capital.

    The deceased’s widow, Mrs Elizabeth Obioma, told newsmen that “the assassins came in and killed him and left without taking anything.”

    Efforts to speak with the Niger State Police Command proved abortive as the police spokesperson neither picked nor returned his calls and text messages as of the time of filing this report.

    The 67-year-old indigene of Abia State was appointed NECO Registrar in May 2020.

    Details later…

  • At Least 200 Islamiyya Students Kidnapped In Niger

    At Least 200 Islamiyya Students Kidnapped In Niger

    At least 200 students of an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been abducted.

    One person was shot dead while another lays critically injured after gunmen carried out the kidnap operation at about 4:30pm on Sunday.

    A resident of the area Zayyad Mohammed confirmed the incident to Channels Television via telephone.

    According to him, the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school where the incident took place, was built by a retired Immigration Officer.

    Details of the attack are still sketchy, but according to sources, the Islamiyya school is not the usual Sangaya boarding Islamic school, but a conventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education.

    As at the time of filing this report, the police were yet to make any comments regarding the development.

  • Police Station Razed Amid Protest In Niger

    Police Station Razed Amid Protest In Niger

    A police station has been burnt amid a protest by residents of Gauraka in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State.

    This followed an attack by gunmen on Angwan-Wazobia community on Monday where six locals were abducted by the assailants.

    Wasiu Abiodun, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, confirmed the attack on the community and the station in a statement.

    Recall we had reported the demonstration by residents of Gauraka who blocked the Abuja – Kaduna highway to protest the incessant cases of kidnapping in the community.

    During the protests, the protesters burned tyres as they called for improved security in the area, as well as an end to incessant attacks on their community.

    They lamented that no fewer than 15 locals have been abducted between Saturday and Sunday, and three others have lost their lives.

    On his part, Abiodun noted that the command had deployed operatives in the area, but he blamed the protesters for the attack on the police outpost.

    “Niger State Police Command wishes to confirm that today being 24th May 2021 at about 0300hrs, unknown gunmen attacked the residents of Angwan-Wazobia in Gauraka area of Tafa LGA where about six persons were abducted.

    “Teams of policemen were mobilised to the scene and efforts to rescue the victims are being intensified,” he said.

    The command’s spokesman alleged, “However, at about 0635hrs of the same date, some miscreants blocked both sides of Abuja – Kaduna expressway, protesting the recent cases of kidnapping in the community.

    “The miscreants later extended the protest to Gauraka Police outpost, vandalised and set it ablaze.”

    According to him, efforts are ongoing to disperse the protesters from the highway to ease the flow of traffic on the road.

    Abiodun noted that the command has dispatched reinforcement from Minna, the state capital to the Area Police Command in Suleja, as well as a joint task force from the Minna – Suleja highway to restore normalcy on the Abuja – Kaduna expressway.

    He called on parents, guardians, and community leaders in the area to caution their children/wards against engaging in acts of public disturbance.

    The command’s spokesman gave an assurance that the police would continue the onslaught against criminal elements in the state.