The bandits, who abducted over 30 persons recently in Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, the country home of the Minister of State, Defence, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, have demanded the sum of N500 million as ransom.

A resident of the area, Ibrahim Maradun told DAILY POST that all available channels to raise the money have proved abortive as wealthy individuals have not shown any concern to pay the ransom.

“We have wealthy people in the town but they could not risk their wealth for the kidnapped victims to regain their freedom from the notorious bandits”, he stated.

Maradun explained that since the incident happened, both the State government and the security agencies have not made any official statement.

“The State Government has neither visited the town to show sympathy, nor has the Governor delegated any government official to show concern,” he lamented.

Maradun noted that the people of the area revolted against former Governor Matawalle through the ballot box owing to insecurity.

“During the electioneering campaigns, Governor Dauda Lawal assured electorates that if voted into power, he would end banditry activities within 100 days in office.

“But now, the situation is getting worse as bandits’ operations continue to escalate unabated.

“Recently, armed bandits ambushed the operatives of the State’s local security outfit, known as Community Protection Guard, CPG, killed three of them, injured many and made away with their arms,” he disclosed.

He called on the State Government and the security operatives to intensify more efforts to ensure the release of the kidnapped victims.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former Registrar of Zamfara State Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau, Abubakar Garba Dandare, before Justice Bello Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court in Gusau.

The Commission docked Dandare on a two-count charge, accusing him of misappropriating the sum of N3.8 million belonging to a late businessman, Alhaji Ladan Mada, and the forgery of the signature of his next of kin, Aminu Mada.

In the suit number, ZMJ/GS/13C/2024, Dandare was charged for misappropriating N3,837,634.46, entrusted to him for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada by the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance in December 2012, when he was the Registrar of Upper Sharia Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State.

Dandare was also alleged to have forged the signature of Aminu Mada, late Alhaji Mada’s next of kin, on the Court Cash Deposit Register of the Upper Shari’s Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State, aiming to access the funds.

The EFCC said that the actions constituted the offense of Criminal Breach of Trust, as outlined in sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code, CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.

Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi granted bail to the defendant, under the condition that he provides two sureties who are residents of the state, in the sum of N5 million.

They must also submit their passports and two GSM numbers to the court registrar.

The Police in Kano State have arrested seventeen suspected forex hawkers for illegal operation of Bureau de Change.

Spokesman of the command, SP. Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to newsmen.

He said the arrest followed a raid conducted by the Kano Police Command with combined personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) at locations where FOREX Transactions were being carried out in Wappa Bureau De Change, Fagge LGA, Kano.

According to him “At the end of the operation, a total of twenty-nine (29) people were arrested out of which twelve (12) were screened out for lack of evidence, while seventeen (17) were arrested with the following exhibits recovered; (1) Sum of Sixty-eight Thousand (68,000) CFA, and (2) Thirty (30) Rupees (Indian Currency).”

He said further investigation revealed that the seventeen suspects were operating under one Association of unlicensed Bureau De Change and they will be charged to Court for prosecution.

SP Kiyawa explained that the essence of the operation was to flush out elements that operate illegally to stabilize the foreign exchange market in the country.

The arrest excluded genuine Bureau de Change operators who carry on their legitimate businesses in their offices.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, noted that illegal financial activities would not be tolerated, and that those engaging in such practices would face the full wrath of the law.

He advised all individuals and business operators within the financial sector to operate within the confines of the law, obtain the necessary licenses and always avoid unwholesome practices.

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state says the educational system in the state is facing a crisis as a result of insecurity.

Speaking at a capacity training programme organised by the Nigeria Police Force Schools Protection Squad in Kaduna on Wednesday, Sani observed that school enrolment in the state has declined following the security challenges.

He explained that in some local government areas, insecurity has forced school consolidation, further pushing up the number of out-of-school children in the state.

According to the governor, “the recent kidnapping of 135 students from the LEA Primary and Junior Secondary School, Kuriga, Chikun LGA, tragically illustrates the devastating impact of insecurity on access to education and safety in the state.”

He believed that no nation can achieve its human capital development goals and make giant developmental strides if it fails to guarantee the safety and security of schools.

He added, “Kaduna is one of the states that have been waging a sustained battle against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

“These non-state actors have disrupted socio-economic activities in the affected communities and are threatening our educational revitalization programme.

“Kaduna State’s educational system is facing a crisis of declining enrolment, with over 200,000 fewer primary school pupils recorded in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year.”

The governor lamented that the dramatic drop (from 2,111,969 in 2021/2022 to 1,734,704 in 2022/2023) is largely attributed to insecurity.

He added that in local government areas (LGAs) like Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi, insecurity has forced school consolidation, further pushing up the number of out-of-school children.

To ensure that the education of the children in conflicts-prone and terrorists’ infested areas was not interrupted, he said they have to commence the merging of 359 schools with those in safe locations.

Sani commended the federal government for the N144.8b Safe Schools Financing Plan which was launched in 2022, saying that the plan was developed through rigorous consultations and strategic engagements with all relevant stakeholders in the education and security sectors, at national and sub-national levels.

Meanwhile, National Coordinator of Safe Schools Programme, Halima Iliya, said the federal government, in consultation and collaboration with states, local governments and critical agencies of government, including the military and other security agencies, had developed a Medium Term National Plan on Financing Safe Schools (2023-2026).

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order of Benue State, Hon. Barr. Fidelis Mnyim has said the car gift to the judiciary by Governor Hyacinth Alia is a symbol of support and commitment as promised when he assumed office.

Barr Mnyim was reacting to a query posed by Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in a tweet on Monday, 7th May 2024, challenging the viability of the autonomy granted to Benue State Judiciary if the State governor was still buying cars for them.

DAILY POST recalls that Governor Alia donated six (SUV) vehicles recently to the judiciary.

The Professor had wondered why Governor Alia of Benue State should procure vehicles for the state’s judiciary when the funds allocated to the judiciary could be utilized for that purpose.

The Attorney General of the State said that the procurement of vehicles for the judiciary constituted an additional benevolent gesture by the Governor.

He said the gesture was particularly significant in light of the fact that Governor Alia had already granted full financial autonomy to the judiciary in February 2024, encompassing both recurrent and capital expenditures, consequent upon which the judiciary is receiving her complete share of funds accruing from FAAC and IGR, proportionate to the percentage of the budget for the month.

Mnyim emphasized that the judiciary has the financial wherewithal to procure vehicles of their choice, as the allocated funds are released to them at the end of each month.

He said the governor only demonstrated his commitment to justice and the law, to supplement the financial autonomy with the donation of vehicles to the judiciary.

The Attorney General said the gesture was designed to inspire the judiciary to strive for excellence in their service delivery.

He further highlighted that Governor Alia’s benevolence extended beyond the judiciary, as his administration had implemented various initiatives aimed at enhancing staff welfare and effective service delivery across all sectors.

“The Governor’s commitment to the welfare of the judiciary and the entire citizenry of Benue State is evident in his unwavering dedication to fostering an environment conducive to justice, equity, and progress,” he stated.

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency, Usman Okai, has said Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State spent his first 100 days in office chauffeuring around the former Governor of the State, Yahaya Bello, with taxpayers’ money.

Okai said Ododo’s 100 days in office is a display of sycophancy that is as shameful as it is concerning.

In a statement he signed, the PDP chieftain said that instead of focusing on the pressing issues that “plague our state education, healthcare, infrastructure” Ododo chose to prioritize the “whims of a political ally over the needs of the people.”

According to Okai, “while our schools crumble and our hospitals remain under-equipped, Ododo saw fit to dedicate his time to serving as a personal chauffeur, a luxury reserved for the elite while the masses suffer.”

He said: “This is not governance; this is a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the citizens of this state.

“What message does this send to the hardworking citizens who rely on their elected officials to enact positive change?

“It is a slap in the face to every teacher struggling to educate our children, every doctor working tirelessly to save lives, and every citizen who pays their taxes in the hope of a better tomorrow.

“Governor Ododo’s actions speak volumes about his character and his commitment to the people he was elected to serve.

“He has shown himself to be nothing more than a puppet, dancing to the tune of his political masters while neglecting the very people who entrusted him with their futures.

“But let us not forget that Governor Ododo is not alone in his culpability. Those who stand by silently, complicit in his actions, are just as guilty.

“We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to such egregious misconduct, for to do so would be to condone it.

“It is time for us, the people, to hold our leaders accountable. We must demand better from those who claim to represent us, and we must never waver in our pursuit of justice and equality for all.

“Governor Ododo’s 100 days have been marked by a shameful display of self-interest and negligence. We deserve better, and it is up to us to ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear.”