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Abducted schoolboys: Masari visits Buhari’s private residence

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By Ismail Auwal

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, has visited President Muhammadu Buhari in his private residence at Daura.

The visit is coming a few days after more than 500 students were abducted in a secondary school in Katsina state.

The news is the visit was disclosed by the President’s Personal Assitant on New Media, Bashir Ahmed, on his verified Twitter page.

Over 500 students of the Science Secondary School Kankara were kidnapped by unknown gunmen, few hours after President Buhari arrived Daura for a private visit.

All rescue operations have so far failed to free the students from captivity despite reassurance given by the authorities.

COVID 19: Israel Prime Minister to go into isolation

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By Ismail Auwal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will go into self-isolation on Monday after coming into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.

Netanyahu tested negative for the virus on Sunday and on Monday, but he will still “enter isolation until Friday following contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient”, the statement said.

Several Israeli media outlets have reported that Netanyahu met last week with a member of his right-wing Likud party, Michael Kleiner, who has subsequently tested positive for the virus.
The statement from the prime minister’s office did not provide details regarding Netanyahu’s potential exposure.
Netanyahu was at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport last week to welcome a first shipment of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine.

He declared that the end of the pandemic was “in sight” and offered to take the first jab in a mass vaccination campaign due to start later this month.

Israel, a country of nine million people, has registered more than 358,000 coronavirus cases, including 3003 deaths.

COVID-19: 26 Army Generals test positive, 417 others undergo test

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By Ismail Auwal

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that twenty-six Army Generals and other senior officers have so far tested positive for COVID-19.

Four hundred and seventeen are undergoing COVID-19 test after the General Officer Commanding 6 Division, Major General Johnson Olu Irefin, died of COVID-19 complications during the Annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Sagir Musa.

According to the statement, all officers and soldiers working at the Army Headquarters are being tested, while “COVID-19 protocols are being strictly enforced across all units and formations of the NA.”
He disclosed that the entire Army Headquarters complex “was thoroughly fumigated on Saturday 12 December 2020.”

The statement read in part, “the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference (COAS) 2020, started on 7 December 2020 with the virtual commissioning of the Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command’s Headquarters at Giri by the President, Commander- in-Chief.

Among the attendees was Maj Gen JO Irefin, the late General Officer Commanding 6 Division, based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Same day, at about 9pm, having complained of fever, headache and mild cough, he was taken to Defence Medical Centre, Abuja.

“His medical history revealed that he was treated for malaria with parenteral artemether a week ago at 6 Division Medical Services and Hospital in Port Harcourt Barracks. On Wednesday 8 December 2020, his sample for COVID 19 was taken and he was directed to self-isolate pending the outcome of the test. On the same day, the result of his COVID 19 test was confirmed positive and was taken to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja for further management.”
It continued that, “sadly, he passed on at about 0510 hours on Thursday 10th of December 2020.

The cause of his death was reported as respiratory failure secondary to the complications of COVID 19 infection.

“On the confirmation that Gen Irefin’s COVID19 test was positive on 9 December 2020, the Chief of Army Staff directed the immediate suspension of the conference and all participants were directed to move into self-isolation in line with FGN protocols on COVID 19 pandemic.

“Equally, comprehensive testing of all participants commenced immediately. Consequently, as at Sunday the 13th of December 2020, a total of 417 personnel have so far been tested with 26 confirmed positive cases. Currently, all participants are in self-isolation irrespective of their results while the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control recommended COVID-19 treatment drugs were immediately issued to those that tested positive.

“Accordingly, all officers and soldiers working at the Army Headquarters are being tested and COVID-19 protocols being strictly enforced across all units and formations of the NA. Meanwhile, the entire Army Headquarters complex was thoroughly fumigated on Saturday 12 December 2020”.

Gunmen kidnap 19 People, kill clergyman in Niger State

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By Ismail Auwal

At least 19 people have been kidnapped by gunmen in Ogu and Tegina communities in Rafi Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

The Chief of Staff to Rafi LGA Chairman, Mohammed Mohammed, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Monday.

A resident of Ogu, Kamal Wayam, decried that the attackers stormed the community on Sunday morning and started shooting into the air.

“The gunmen in their large number arrived in Ogu on motorcycles and before we knew what was happening, they started shooting into the air.

“They ransacked people’s houses and whatever valuable they could lay their hands on, they carted away,” Wayam said during his conversation with Mohammed.

He added, “They also abducted six persons from Ogu. Four of the persons abducted were members of one family while the other two were visitors to the community.”

Ogu is a settlement close to Wayam, another community about two kilometres from Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi LGA.

Similarly, the attack on Tegina community was said to have happened at about 12:30am on Monday with 16 people abducted.

“The gunmen entered the room of my daughter that night, but she hid herself under the bed, while her husband went up the ceiling,” Sani Gamachindo, a resident of the community, told Mohammed.

He added, “When the gunmen entered their room, they spent like 30 minutes and ate almost all the food in the kitchen. Thank God they were not abducted, but 16 persons were kidnapped.”

The latest attacks in Rafi LGA came barely four days after gunmen abducted a youth leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the District Head of Gunna, and two children of two health workers in Garin Gabbas and Yakila communities in the local government.

Elsewhere, a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Jeremiah Ibrahim, was killed by gunmen in Chukuba community in Shiroro LGA.

The clergyman who was serving at the branch of the church in Kuta was murdered on Friday last week.

A senior official of the church in Minna, who pleaded anonymity, said Pastor Ibrahim had gone to check his farm in Chukuba and decided to visit a colleague who was the resident pastor of Chukuba where he was attacked and killed.
“This is coming barely two weeks after six missionaries of ECWA and the wife of one of them were abducted,” he added.

He stated that the clergyman has since been buried.

Efforts to reach the police authorities to confirm the incident proved abortive as the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, Wasiu Abiodun, did not pick his calls or respond to messages sent to him.

Thugs storm CNG security review meeting In Kaduna

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By Nasir Isa

Thugs carrying various crude weapons, on Monday, stormed the venue of security review meeting organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) in Kaduna.

The meeting slated for 11 am was aimed at developing a module for Broad Based Community Acton for Self Defence, Deeper Engagement and Enhanced Synergy between the 19 northern states.

No soon had the meeting started, thugs brandishing machetes and other crude weapons breached the security at Arewa House, forcing participants and stakeholders to take to their heels. The thugs destroyed properties at the venue.

Daily Trust reported that participants at the meeting include security experts, traditional and religious leaders, groups, civil society, businesses community, government, trade, youth, opinion leaders as well as women associations had to scramble for safety for fear of being attacked.

UN calls for ‘immediate’ release of kidnapped Katsina schoolboys

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By Ismail Auwal

The United Nations has condemned the mass abduction of students at the Government Science School at Kankara, Kastina State.

The organisation expressed its concern in a statement by the spokesperson of the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, on Monday.

Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the Government Science School at Kankara late on Friday and abducted hundreds of students. They engaged security forces in a fierce gunbattle, forcing hundreds of the students to flee and hide in surrounding bushes and forest.

The UN statement tread, “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the 11 December attack on a secondary school in Katsina State, Nigeria, and the reported abduction of hundreds of boys by suspected armed bandits.

“The Secretary-General calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted children and their safe return to their families. He reiterates that attacks on schools and other educational facilities constitute a grave violation of human rights. He urges the Nigerian authorities to bring those responsible for this act to justice.

“The Secretary-General reaffirms the solidarity and support of the United Nations to the government and people of Nigeria in their fight against terrorism, violent extremism, and organised crime.”

Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, who visited the school on Saturday, said soldiers were working to locate and free the hostages.

On Sunday, the governor, however, noted that 333 students were still missing.

Insecurity: stop blaming security agencies, says DSS

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By Ismail

The Director General of the Departmert of state service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, has called on Nigerians to support the fight against insecurity and stop blaming the security agencies. 

Bichi, made this call in Abuja at the Security and Emergency Awards (SEMA 2020), where the organisation was conferred with an award by the Emergency Digest, a security tabloid. 

The DG, represented by the service’s spokesman, Peter Afunanya, stated that the support of the citizens is pertinent, especially in areas of intelligence gathering. He added that people need to rededicate themselves to the ideals of building a country that is devoid of any insecurity. 

He said, “We call on Nigerians to support security agencies and the government. Security is no longer for government and security agencies; there is a need for collaborative efforts and partnerships. You continue to stay in your comfort zones and continue to blame security agencies for all, but the information that the security agencies need have you brought it?

“All those bad people are part of our communities; they live in our neighbourhoods. If you know one, tell the security agencies about him. If you have not done all these, it’s time for us to have a rethink; it’s time for us to have a change of mind to rededicate ourselves to the ideals of building a country that is devoid of any insecurity.”

Also, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, while commending the organizers of the awards, said the cybersecurity sector is estimated at $2.32bn and projected to become $3.6 to $4.2bn by 2023.

The minister, represented by Emeka Okoye, Director Information and Communication Technology, called on all stakeholders to make an input into developing the national digital economy for the country to maximise its security benefits.

The minister said the government is reviewing the Cybercrime Act to meet the emerging security challenges of the nation such as terrorism and cyberspace criminality.

Keffi Emirate confers Barden Keffi on Danburan Zazzau

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By Ismail Auwal

The Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo Yamusa III has conferred the title of Barden Keffi to Alhaji Sani Mahmoud Shaaban in recognition of Shaaban’s dogged efforts in philanthropy, bridge-building and establishment of familiar and cordial relationship between Zazzau Emirate and Keffi Emirate.

Shaaban, who currently holds the title of Danburan in the Zazzau Emirate is a top-notch political personality being touted by Kaduna state citizens to succeed Gov Nasir El-Rufai.

Responding to the surprise gesture of Emir Yamusa, Shaaban said: “honestly I was taken aback by this gigantic gift from His Highness. I came to Keffi to pay homage, but little did I know I would be honored with his important title.

“The history of fraternity and cordial relationship between Zazzau Emirate, it’s people with Keffi Emirate it’s predates colonial time.

“And this honour has further cemented this age-long friendship, by the grace of Allah we shall continue to uphold and extend this important harmony between these two important Emirates to the zenith of fraternity.

“And to demonstrate my profound commitment to Emir Yamusa, I shall, in due course bring an important developmental projects or program to this Emirate. After all we have done it in many countries talkless of our home here in Kebbi.

While a coronation date was not fixed, the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli called in Emir Yamusa showing his gratitude and appreciation for honouring one of his title holder.

Our lives are better, more secure under Buhari – Sheikh Jingir

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By Nasir Isa

The Chairman of Ulama’u Council of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’a Waikamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has said that Nigerians are living a better and more secured life under President Muhammadu Buhari than under his predecessors despite the country’s security challenge.

He made the assertion at weekend during the JIBWIS 24th National Qur’an Recitation Competition in Gombe.

“We have serious security challenges in the country but it is my belief that the current situation is better than when people were afraid of attending gatherings. I am not saying everything is fine, but there is an improvement in the security situation,” he said.

However, the cleric appealed to the president to re-strategise and to confront security issues facing the country head on.

BREAKING: Former Liverpool manager, Gerard Houllier dies at 73

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By Abba Gwale

Former Liverpool, Aston Villa, and France manager Gerard Houllier has died at the of age 73.

Houllier spent six years at Anfield between 1998-2004, winning four major trophies including the League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup in 2001.

After two years with Lyon, Houllier returned to the Premier League in 2010, replacing Martin O’Neill as manager of Aston Villa. He stepped down from his role at Villa Park in June the following year, shortly after falling ill with heart problems.

The Frenchman spent 38 years as a manager, also taking charge of the France national team. He also managed Olympic Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain, where he won Ligue 1 in 1986 – the first of PSG’s nine titles.

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