The seventy six detained Kano minors on Tuesday night returned home via the Malam Aminu International Airport aboard a Max aircraft.

The  plane, which also flew Gov. Abba  Yusuf, touched down at around 9:57pm,

Earlier in the evening, Yusuf, had received the minors who had been released on the orders of President Bola Tinubu, Tuesday morning.

Among those who received the minors were: The State Deputy Governor, Abdul Salam Gwarzo, Speaker of the State Assembly, Alhaji Isma’ila Falgore, Commissioners, top government functionaries as well as politicians.

The minors were immediately taken into three buses to Muhammadu Buhari Special Hospital where a team of medical professionals has been designated to assess their physical and mental health, (NAN)

Zamfara Government said it has received $2.5million from Saudi Arabian Donor Agency to support internally displaced persons with humanitarian challenges.

The Commissioner for Humanitarian and Relief Matters, Alhaji Musa Kainuwa disclosed this at the closing session of a five-day medical training on Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) in Gusau on Friday.

The training was organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with State Ministry for Humanitarian and Relief Matters.

Kainuwa said the state secured the assistance during a joint meeting between the donor organisation, Jigawa, Katsina and Zamfara state governments held in Kaduna.

“We are not relenting in our efforts in searching for assistance to ensure we give the desired treatment and support to vulnerable communities.

“We must commend the UNFPA, WHO and all other international donor organisations that are providing the state with all forms of humanitarian gesture to ease the lives of the vulnerable,” he said.

In his remarks, Dr Audu Alayande of UNFPA, noted with concern the extent of humanitarian crisis that hit the state, saying UNFPA would continue to render the needed support.

“In two weeks coming, we will be back to the state for the training of Humanitarian Desk Officers across the 14 local government areas of the state.

“The training is to enhance their capacity towards effective management of the displaced persons,’’ Alayande said.

Misbahu Abubakar of Gurbinbore Primary Healthcare in Zurmi local government and Muhammad Jamilu of Dankurmi Primary Healthcare in Maru local government were participants who shared their experiences on the five-day workshop.

They explained that they really passed through rigorous interface lectures that educated them on the needs of the displaced persons and possible methods of managing their health crisis.

The duo added that the training gave them the opportunity to better understand MISP and expressed determination to implement the procedure to displaced persons.

They appreciated both the state government and UNFPA for finding them worthy of the training, believing that it would go a long way in reducing humanitarian crisis among victims of bandits attacks. (NAN)

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

No fewer than 56 primary healthcare centres, schools and market places have been shut down due to ceaseless activities of armed bandits in Katsina-Ala local government area of Benue State.

Chairman of the Local Government Council, Justine Shaku who disclosed this to newsmen on phone in Makurdi said that all social infrastructure within eight council wards have been damaged.

For the past one year, the armed bandits have crippled every social and economic activity in the affected wards, leaving several schools, markets and clinics a no go area.

Given a breakdown of the social infrastructures that have become inaccessible, Shaku disclosed that over 20 schools, 23 markets and 13 primary health clinics remain shut in the eight council wards where the criminal elements have been doing exploits.

“Insecurity in the area has been challenging. Agriculture, which is the major source of our livelihood, is greatly affected because of so many challenges at the moment.”

“My administration will seriously focus on rebuilding, rehabilitating and resuscitating all the broken economic sectors within the council.

“I will focus on health, education, roads, agriculture and security, to boost the council’s economy, “and to ensure that the schools are back to life.”

“I will rebuild the local government council secretariat which has become an eyesore”, Shaku said.

According to him, with the Supreme Court judgment granting autonomy to local governments, he is set to rebuild the decayed infrastructure within the council and strive to deliver on his campaign promises.