COVER
Death Toll in Military Drone Attack on Kaduna Civilains Rises to 80
From Nicholas Dekera, Kaduna
Death toll in the bombing of civilians by the Army at Tudun Biri Village in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna has risen to 80.
Kaduna State Government has said the Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for dropping a bomb, which left no fewer than 30 villagers dead on Sunday.
Initial reports had it that about 30 villagers were killed in the incident, which happened during a Maulud celebration around 9PM.
There were also conflicting reports on the cause of the mass deaths.
However, the Overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Maj Gen VU Okoro, admitted that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists when the incident happened.
This was contained in a statement released by the commissioner to journalists shortly after the deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe met with Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, heads of security agencies, where “the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.”
The meeting was held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna on Monday. The statement read, “The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major VU Okoro, explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.”
He added that search-and-rescue efforts were still ongoing as dozens of injured victims had been evacuated to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the state government. He also quoted the deputy governor as having commiserated with the victims’ families while praying for the repose of the victims’ souls.
The statement added, “The Kaduna State Government has received briefings on Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured.
“In a meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.
“The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major VU Okoro, explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.
“The deputy governor, at the end of the closed-door meeting, conveyed the condolences of the government and people of Kaduna State to the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.
“As of the time of this update, search-and-rescue efforts are still ongoing, as dozens of injured victims have been evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the Government.”
The heads of security agencies who attended the meeting included the state Commissioner of Police, MY Garba; Director of the Department of State Services, Abdul Enenche; the Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Jam’atu Nasril Islam, Prof. Shafi’u Abdullahi, who led other religious leaders as well as the District Head of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris, in whose domain the incident occurred.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Makurdi Zonal Directorate has established an Extractive Industry Fraud Section (EIFS) to checkmate illegal miners in Benue state.
The Zonal Director, Makurdi Zonal Command, Dr Anselem Ozioko, disclosed this during interactive session with newsmen in his office in Makurdi.
He explained that there are so many illegal mining sites in Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states which are directly under his purview.
According to him, the command has decided to create the section so as to monitor and deal with those who engage in activities without the requisite documents.
“Illegal mining is one common thing in Benue and because of the size of this directorate, we now have a section that deals with it,” the Zonal Director stated.
He disclosed, “The directorate has set up an Extractive Industry Fraud Section (EIFS) and under one month, the command has already secured 10 convictions in the section.
“Under the section, those we found with solid minerals including Iron ore who didn’t have the requisite license, we convicted all of them including the manager who came to shortee the bail of his drivers.
“No offender would be spared. I want to warn that anyone caught would be punished as required by law.
“The directorate had gone into the new year more committed to rid the state of fraudulent activities.”
The commission’s boss advised the people to report such activities saying, “Once there is any atom of dishonesty in financial business, come to EFCC.”
“Despite our success within the short period of time under my watch, the command faced challenges in dealing with activities of illegal mining especially in reaching the areas of their activities.
“We are in the hinterlands and they are very dangerous people and it’s not easy to access them. Sometimes we cannot penetrate those areas because of security implications.
“But we are thinking outside the box to ensure that we get them. If we cannot get them we know where to wait for them.”
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday set Jan. 31, to lay the harmonized report of the 2025 budget estimates before the hallowed Green Chamber of the National Assembly.The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi (APC, Kano) disclosed this in an interview with journalists after the inaugural meeting of the panel yesterday.
He said that the 2025 budget defence sessions by committees with various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) would commence on Tuesday. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had presented the N49.74 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill before a joint session of the National Assembly on Dec. 18, 2024.The House passed the budget through second reading on Dec. 19, 2024 and referred same to the Appropriations Committee with all Standing Committees as sub-committees for further legislative actions.Bichi told journalists that the budget defence would last till January 17 and reports from the exercise may be harmonised on January 22 while the Appropriations Committee’s report would be laid at plenary on January 31st.The committee’s chairman assured that the panel and standing committees will be thorough with the budget defence in the interest of Nigerians.”We just had the inauguration meeting today for the 2025 Appropriation Bill which you have been aware that the President has presented the budget us and by tomorrow we will start the budget defence with all the MDAs. From tomorrow to 17th we are going to do our budget defence and we will likely harmonise on the 22nd and God’s willing by 31st we are going to lay our reports.”We are going to study the budget; all our committees will study the budget. I believe the budget is for Nigerians, for our development – infrastructure and other important things and I am sure Nigerians will be happy with it,” Bichi said.Bichi said the parliament will scrutinize the proposed budgetary expenditure, revenues and other issues contained in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.He said, “We just had an integration meeting today for the 2025 appropriation bills which you have been aware that the president has presented the budget to us and by tomorrow we’ll start the budget defense by all the MDAs from tomorrow to the 17th we are going to do our budget defense and we will likely harmonize by 22nd.“But what we do first, we complete our reports. Now we are going to study the budget, all our committees will study the budget and I believe the budget is for Nigerians, it’s for development infrastructures and other important things and I’m sure Nigeria will be happy with it”.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
A device went off yesterday in a school in an Abuja suburb, killing one student and injuring four others.The incident reignited concerns about security in schools.According to sources, the incident occurred at about noon in Islamiyyah school in Kuchibiyu Community, Bwari Area Council.
Emergency and security personnel were immediately deployed as the dead and injured were evacuated. A source said, “The dead student, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, bore the substance suspected to be IED while it exploded and injured the other students, thereby causing pandemonium in the centre”. School authorities could not be reached for reaction.A source added that the students involved were recently admitted into the school and that they resumed on Jan. 3.”A senior official of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) confirmed the incident.The official who did not want his name mentioned said the head of the school (Malam), told him that the student who brought the device that exploded in the school was one of the learners from Katsina State.”One person was already dead by the time I got there. I asked the DPO to immediately take the Malam that brought those students from Katsina so that he could interrogate him.”The three other persons were rushed to the hospital. There were four, according to what the Malam said. There’s this other girl that was selling ‘awara’. She was also affected,” the official explained.
How Dr Adedeji Transformed Dreams into National Impact
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Special Adviser on Communications and Advocacy at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Collins Omokaro,...
Fed Varsity Katsina Admits 5,507 Students for 2024/2025 Session
ShareThe Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA), in Katsina State, has inducted about 5,507 students for the 2024/2025 academic session.The institution’s Vice-Chancellor,...
FG upgrades Kuje, Suleja Custodial Centres
ShareThe Federal Government has upgraded the Medium Security Custodial Centres in Kuje and Suleja to improve the living conditions and...
NFF Appoints Chelle as Super Eagles’ New Head Coach
ShareThe Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach of...
Zulum urges Faithful-based Institute to Foster Morality, Hard work
Share Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has urged faith-based institutions in Nigeria to focus on producing graduates who are not...
Police Raise Alarm over Rising Missing Persons Cases in Ogun
ShareThe Police Command in Ogun has raised concerns over a significant increase in reports of missing persons in the state.CSP...
PANDEF Tables 3 Demands Before Tinubu
ShareBy Mike Odiakose, Abuja The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has tabled three demands before President Bola Tinubu, including a...
Nigeria at Moderate Risk, Says NCDC
ShareBy Laide Akinboade, Abuja The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said from its assessments in collaboration with...
Bala Drop Five Commissioners, Appoints Eight for Confirmation
ShareFrom Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed Abdulkadir on Tuesday dropped five of his Commissioners and appointed eight...
NECA Slams State Governors for Non-payment of N70,000 Minimum Wage
ShareBy Tony Obiechina, Abuja The Director-General of the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale Oyerinde has said that state governments...