By Salisu Sani-Idris

Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, a former Interim National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged security agencies to deplore all the required resources to put an end to kidnapping of innocent children for ransom.

Tumsah, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, expressed shock and sadness over the Friday abduction of hundreds of
schoolgirls in Jangebe, Zamfara.

The APC chieftain said it was disturbing that the incident happened at a time that the Zamfara Government was pursuing peace deal with repentant bandits.

He said the recurring incidence of school abductions and killings by bandits call for a multi-pronged approach to ending the insecurity ravaging the country.

He demanded immediate and safe release of the schoolgirls and those involved in the act should be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The kidnapping of school children in their dormitories will, no doubt, negatively affect learning as no meaningful academic activities can take place in an unsecure environment.

“Attacks on schools may also discourage some parents from sending their kids to school and the consequence of having a generation without proper education can be best imagined than experienced,” he said.

The APC chieftain, therefore, urged government at all levels to ensure that academic institutions are well secured to prevent attacks.

By Abubakar Ahmed

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that last Friday’ abduction of female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, will be the last to happen.

The president’s statement was relayed on Sunday, through Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, who led a high-powered federal government delegation to  sympathise with the people and government of Zamfara.

He said new measures had been developed by the federal government which would bring complete end to all forms of criminality in the nation.

“The President is saddened by the abduction of the students from Jangebe and reassures you that the government has all the resources and wherewithal to contain these criminals.

“Buhari also commended Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara’s efforts
against armed banditry and promised a continued support to bringing lasting peace.

“The federal government will continue its partnership with Zamfara government and its citizens in resolving the security challenges facing the state,” Buhari said.

In his response, Gov. Matawalle appreciated Buhari and the federal government’s concern, noting that very soon the abductees would regain their freedom.

“I strongly believe in the president and his effort in fighting all forms of insurgence and urge him to improve on the nation’s security.

”This is by ensuring synergy among the security agencies so that confrontations with criminals can be coordinated on ground and air simultaneously,” the governor said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the delegation were the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sa’adiya Umar-Faruk and Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen. (NAN)

By Ishaq Zaki

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has said that the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Jangebe, will be released very soon.

Matawalle stated this in Gusau on Sunday while receiving the federal government delegation which was in the state for sympathy visit over the abduction of the children.

“We are using the leaders of the repentant bandits to rescue the schoolgirls from the kidnappers.

“Very soon we are going to witness the release of the abductees”, the governor said

He said his administration “is going to continue with peace process with bandits considering its impacts in addressing security challenges facing the state”.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for sending the delegation to symphathise the state over what he described as “ugly act”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that special prayers were offered for the release of the schoolgirls during the visit. (NAN)

By Monday Ijeh

The Department of State Services (DSS) says the arrest of Mallam Salihu Tanko-Yakassai, the Media Aide to Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State followed issues beyond the expression of opinion in social media.

The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

“This is to confirm that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai is with the DSS and he is being investigated over issues beyond the expression of opinions in the social media as wrongly alleged by sections of the public,’’ he stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Ganduje, on Saturday, sacked the media adviser over alleged unguarded comments and utterances.

He said Tanko-Yakassai failed to differentiate between personal opinion and official stand on matters of public concern.

So, he said, he could not be allowed to continue to serve in a government he does not believe in. (NAN)

By Monday Ijeh

The Nigeria Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) says it has arrested 40 suspects in connection with various alleged criminal offences.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the FCT, ASP Mariam Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Yusuf listed the offences to include car snatching, drug peddling, armed robbery and public nuisance.

She said the suspects were arrested during coordinated raids and patrols in Abaji, Gwarinpa, Asokoro, Jabi-Daki Biyu and Mabushi axes, between Feb. 18 and Feb. 24.

Yusuf also listed exhibits recovered from the suspects to include: one White Toyota Hilux, one ash Toyota Corolla, one locally fabricated rifle, 21 unexpended cartridges and one fabricated marking gun.

She said two of the suspects were arrested for snatching a vehicle after attacking and trampling on their victim in the Lugbe axis.

The PPRO said the vehicle was recovered by police operatives on stop-and-search operations at the Abaji axis.

She said that another vehicle, a silver Toyota Corolla, was recovered from the suspects.

According to her, all the suspects have been arraigned except the car snatching syndicates that will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

She called on FCT residents to remain calm, law-abiding and ensure compliance with all COVID-19 protocols.

Yusuf reiterated the unwavering commitment of the police command to protect lives and property within the territory.

She called on residents to report emergencies, distress and suspicious movements to the police on 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

The PPRO said erring police officers could also be reported to the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) on 09022222352.  (NAN)

By Dorcas Jonah

The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has appealed to the Federal Government to tackle the menace of kidnapping in Nigeria schools.

Mrs Laraba Shoda, National President of NCWS, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Shoda said frequent cases of kidnapping “are not good for the education of our children’’.

She condemned the abduction of students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara, Zamfara.

She noted that another abduction, happening barely a few weeks after gunmen abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara in Niger, was one too many.

The NCWS president expressed concern over the frequent abduction of innocent schoolchildren and called for a renewed commitment to tackle insecurity at all levels of governance.

“The attack on school children, particularly on girls, is targeted at demoralising, not only the girl-child but also others from accessing education.

“We hereby demand that just as the government rescued the schoolboys at Kankara in Katsina and the Dapchi schoolgirls in Yobe, it should in the same vein, rescue the Zamfara schoolgirls in the quickest time possible,’’ she said.

Shoda prayed for the safe return of the children while comforting the families and prayed that they remain calm, believing in God to bring back the girls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that unidentified gunmen kidnapped over 300 schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara, Zamfara in the early hours of Friday. (NAN)

By Muhammad Adam

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 46.8  kilograms of suspected Tramadol capsules worth N50 million in Mubi, Mubi North Local Government area of Adamawa.

The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Idris Bello, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Yola.

Bello said that the drug was seized in a house at Unguwan Madina, Mubi town.

Bello explained that the command had also seized 82 blocks of compressed substance, weighing 79 kilogramme, believed to be cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp, in Lafiya-Lamurde in Lamurde Local Government area of the state.

“The Adamawa Command of NDLEA, on Feb. 19, successfully arrested a suspect, with 225mg of Tramadol tablets, 100mg capsules and Diazepam tablets, all weighing 46.8 kg.

“Similarly, the command, on Feb. 24, also arrested a suspect, of Lafiya-Lamurde, in possession of 82 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa substance, weighing 70 kg, in Lamurde Local Government area ” he said.

The NDLEA commander explained that from January to date, the command had arrested no fewer than 136 suspects in connection with drug-related cases across the state.

He also disclosed that during the period under review, 12 people were convicted, while 67 cases were still pending at the Federal High Court, Yola.

Bello attributed the achievements recorded within the period to what he called dedication and sacrifice by the personnel, working in synergy with other sister agencies, vigilance groups and the communities.

While acknowledging the support of the Federal and the State Governments to the command, he added that with the support of stakeholders, NDLEA would continue to cripple the activities of illicit drug dealers in the state.

“I am warning illicit drug merchants to either leave the state or be arrested and dealt with accordingly,” he stated. (NAN)