Author: Olusegun Oshin

Abdullahi Shugaba

Arrest
Dutse 4, 2018 (NAN) Jigawa Police Command  said it had arrested five suspects for allegedly defrauding people in banks through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Dutse.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdu Jinjiri disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednesday.

He said the suspects were apprehended during “Operation Flush Out”  which was carried out recently in the state.

“During the operation we arrested one Rilwanu Sambo, 31 and his wife Sadiya Rilwanu, 29, from Bauchi state for defrauding people in banks through Automated Teller Machines (ATM) in Dutse,” he said.
Jinjiri said another person Yusuf Aminu, 28, from Borno, was also arrested for the same offence while Zakari Saidu, 25, from Yola, Adamawa, Auwalu Musa, 25, from Birnin Kudu were also apprehended for theft.
He explained that based on complaints received from members of the public, the command drafted plain cloth policemen around the banks in the state capital where the culprits were arrested.
“It was based on aggressive patrols and visibility policing across the state that yielded the good result.
“The suspects were apprehended at the Eco Bank with Eco ATM cards belonging to one Hauwa Mustapha whom they promised to assist withdraw money for her but fraudulently stole the card and withdrew the sum of N28, 000 from her account.
He said investigation revealed that the suspected also defrauded Sani Garba and Aminu Umar of their ATM cards by using the same trick and stole N45, 000 and N50, 000 respectively from their respective accounts.
“It was further gathered that the suspect used two cards belonging to one Alhaji Auwalu to withdraw the sum of N435, 000 from the victims account.”
“The ATM cards and the sum of N155, 000 were recovered as exhibits from the suspects while investigation on the cases were still ongoing, “he said.
The PPRO said “Furthermore, the police have arrested one Yusuf Aminu with Diamond Bank ATM card who attempted to steal N20, 000 belonging to one Auwalu Haruna, the suspect confessed to have conspired with one Ibudu now at large.
He stated that luck also ran out of one Zakari Saidu as he was sighted and arrested around Takur Adua in Dutse metropolis while trying to steal a Corolla car with Registration number RSA 965 PU in the area.
Jinjiri said that the patrol team in collaboration with the security men at the Federal University, Dutse were able to apprehend the hoodlums who specialised in motorcycle theft pointing out that in the process Auwalu Musa from Birninkudu was arrested.
The PPRO noted that most of the thieves terrorizing the state came from neighbouring states to carry out their nefarious activities in the state. (NAN)
AIS// MTM

Polio: Kiyawa LGC targets 75,804 for immunisation
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Immunisation
Kiyawa (Jigawa), July 2, 2018 (NAN) The Kiyawa Local Government Council of Jigawa says it is targeting to immunise 75,804 children against poliomyelitis in the area.
Malam Sunusi Doro, the Information Officer of the council, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.
He explained that the Health Coordinator of the council, Malam Garba Garkon-Ali, has collected 79,100 doses of vaccines from the state Primary Health Care Development Agency for the exercise.
Doro said that 340 ad hoc staff had been recruited for the conduct of the exercise in all nooks and crannies of the local government.
According to him, the primary healthcare coordinator has visited traditional, religious and community leaders on the need to mobilise their subjects to present their children for the immunisation.
The information officer stated that cartons of sweets were purchased by the local government to woo children during the immunisation.
He therefore appealed to parents and guardians to cooperate with the officials to ensure the success of the exercise. (NAN)
AIS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Abdullahi Shugaba

Dutse, June 29, 2018 (NAN) A chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa, Alhaji Ishaq Hadejia has confirmed that the immediate past governor of Kano state, Sen Rabi’u Kwankwaso is still a card carrying member of the party.

Hadejia made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Friday.

He said contrary to insinuations from some quarters that the former governor had defected to another party, was not only untrue and baseless but unfounded.

He wondered why the former governor who is currently a serving senator under the platform of APC and one of the founding members of the Party could leave the party he built and nurtured.

“Kwankwoso was one of the leading figures that moulded the party in its formative stage.

“I am surprised that some people had  a mistaken impression that Kwankwoso will leave APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is not true, it is just mere speculations and an assumptions.”

“How can Kwankwoso dump the party he built and nurtured, yes we were formerly in PDP we decided to leave the party because of injustice and joined APC, I don’t think he will leave APC.”

“Kwankwaso has a lot of supporters in Kano and around the country; they have differences with the incumbent governor of Kano state, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje but not with APC as a party,”he said.

On why he did not attend the recent national convention of the party in Abuja, Hadejia said, “if his supporters and those of Ganduje come together that can lead to fracas which could bring embarrassment to the party and can also lead to breach of peace.”

“Kwankwaso has laboured to make people accept APC; he was in the forefront among the 19 governors who broke away from PDP to form APC”

The APC Chieftain said that Kwankwoso is a democrat who believes in fairness equity and rule of law”.

Hadejia said that Sen. Kwankwaso is an ardent supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration stressing that that he believes in Federal Government’s policies and programmes.

“I am therefore appealing to those that think Sen. Kwankwaso will dump APC to another party to discard that nation.”he added. (NAN)
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Complaints commission records 691 cases in Jigawa
Complaints
Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, June 27, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Garba Atiku, Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Jigawa, said the Commission recorded 691 complaints from January to date in the state.
Atiku disclosed this in an in interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednesday.
Atiku said the information was contained in the handover note by his predecessor, Alhaji Saidu Debi, whose tenure expired in May.
Atiku explained that the complaints included: land disputes, delay in passing judgments, administration of injustice, nonpayment of pension, salaries, entitlements, breach of trust, among others.
He stated that between January and December 2017, 374 cases were recorded, 294 of which were resolved, while 78 were pending.
The commissioner said between January and June, 317 complaints were lodged before the commission, 278 were resolved and 39 were pending.
Atiku pledged that he would consolidate on the gains recorded by his predecessor for th entrenchment of the rule of law and fundamental human rights.
He appealed to Nigerians to always lodge their complaints to the commission for amicable resolution rather than taking the law into their hands.
The commissioner said the Commission was committed to ensuring equity, justice and fair play for all Nigerians. (NAN)
AIS/JPE/SA
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Salif Atojoko
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Socio- cultural group commends FG over grazing reserves

Abdullahi Shugaba

Ranches
Dutse, June 25, 2018 (NAN) A socio-cultural group, Billital Moobe Pastoralists Association of Nigeria, (BILMPAN) has commended the Federal Government on its decision to create grazing reserves in 10 states across the federation.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the organization, Alhaji Ya’u Malammadori, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Dutse on Monday, that the move would address the recurring clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the country.

According to Malammadori, many people are losing their lives and property as a result of the reoccurring crises which is not healthy for the country.

“We believe, the initiative by President Muhammadu Buhari administration to create ranches as a pilot tests in Adamawa, Benue, Ebonyi, Edo, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara,  would solve the incessant crises between pastoralists and farmers

“We really welcome the idea; we appreciate the effort of the government and wish to say that this is a right step taken at the right direction at the right time.

“Though, this is just like a pilot scheme to take off in 10 states across the federation, we want the government to live by its words and extend the gesture to other states.

“We are happy the federal government said it will spend N170 billion on the whole scheme, with  N70 billion to be spent for the project in 10 states before moving to other states.

“But we are surprised to read that some people are against the creation of ranches by the federal government.

“This is very unfortunate, people against the initiative don’t want peace, that means they are enjoying the persistent crises between the herdsmen and farmers, or because they are beneficiaries of the crisis and don’t want it to end.

“We as pastoralists, if disease or calamity befalls our animals, nobody cares to assist us, but when farmers, traders, or people in other human endeavour faced challenges, governments or organisations do assist them.

“So, this time around, if government is saying that it will assist by creating ranches to solve the reoccurring clashes between herdsmen and farmers, what is the problem in that?

“For instance, government do assist farmers with fertilizers and agro chemical, it also assists during flooding.

“Most of our land was taken from us by government for cultivation by farmers, so where do you want us to go and graze our cattle.

“We believe the creation of grazing reserves by the federal government will restrict movement of pastoralists, which could engender peace and mutual coexistence in the society.” (NAN)
AIS/KOLE/MZA

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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Maharazu Ahmed

Admission
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, June 23, 2018 (NAN) Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Jigawa Command, has appealed to National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) to admit inmates serving jail terms in various prisons in Jigawa.

The Comptroller of the service in the state, Alhaji Auwalu Diso, made this known during the matriculation of NOUN students for the 2017/2018 session in Dutse Study Centre on Saturday.

Diso, who was represented by Superintendent of Prisons, Mr Saidu Kibiya, said that like other prisons across the federation, inmates in Jigawa should also be admitted by NOUN to study.

He explained that in view of the gesture, many inmates graduated with first Degrees, Masters and Ph.Ds in various fields.

He added that “I am happy to tell you that the gesture has changed the character and attitudes of many inmates.

“In fact, many inmates have been reformed and they have desisted from bad habits and are ready to become good citizens.

“I am, therefore, appealing to NOUN to consider our request so that the prisoners can be reintegrated
into the society after their jail terms with some integrity.

Meanwhile, the NOUN Study Centre in Dutse matriculated 210 students for the 2017/18 academic session.

The acting Director of the centre, Malam Abdullahi Ya’u, said there was significant improvement in enrollment of students for this session compared with that of 2016/17 session.

He appealed to Jigawa residents, particularly civil servants, to seek for admission into NOUN to upgrade their education status, pointing out that “learning is not only easy and accessible in NOUN but also exciting.”

The director says that NOUN has 78 centres across the country which graduated many students worthy in learning and in character.

He said “I want to urge the new students to dispel the misconception that NOUN qualification is not the same with conventional universities.

“Apart from having virtually all its courses accredited by the National Universities Commission, NOUN has been receiving outstanding recognition at home and abroad for its achievements in educational excellence.”

Ya’u also urged the matriculating students to pursue their studies with vigour and obey laid down rules and regulations of the university.

The Vice Chancellor (VC) of NOUN, Prof. Abdallah Adamu, told the students that character development was
an integral part of education which they signed up with the university.

The VC’s speech, which was read by the Director of the Dutse Centre, noted that after their four-year study,
students would also be judged in character and learning.

He added that “to be qualified as such, you must be seen by your peers and officials of the university to have lived above board.

“You must, therefore, shun vices that may hamper your academic progression, you must say no to cultism, examination malpractice and other anti-social behaviours.” (NAN)
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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Farming
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, June 2018 (NAN) Farming activities in the 2018 rainy season have started in most of the local government areas of Jigawa, investigations by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) have revealed.

NAN observed that in view of the regular rainfalls across the state, most farmers have considered the soil wet enough for them to start commence ground tilling and crop growing.

In Dutse, Birninkudu, Kiyawa, Buji, Ringim and Gwaram local government local government areas of the state, NAN noted that many farmers have planted seeds in their farmlands.

Malam Salmanu Ahmadu of Minari village in Dutse Local Government Area expressed satisfaction with the quality of the seeds which he planted on his farm.

He said: “You can see it yourself; all the millet, groundnut, guinea corn and bean seeds, which I planted, have germinated in a good way.

“We are happy that the rains have stabilised; therefore, we may not have any problem with the growth of the seeds we have planted.’’

Malam Yusuf Muhammad, a farmer in Birninkudu, said that the farmers’ fears about inadequate rainfall were now over, adding: “We can now plant anything.

“Our next challenge is how to get fertilisers to apply to the plants; I, therefore, appeal to the government to supply fertilisers to us in good time at subsidised prices.

“We also need agro chemicals like pesticides to destroy insects that could harm the crops we have planted,’’ he added.

Malam Salisu Abubakar, a farmer in Shuwarin village,  Kiyawa Local Government Area, expressed hope that farmers in the area would record bumper harvests this year because of the adequate rains.

He said that he had already applied organic manure to his plants, adding that the plants were doing very well.

“I don’t want to wait for fertiliser from government because that is going to take a long time and if one is going to get it, it may come very late,” Abubakar added. (NAN)
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Harvests
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, June 20, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) says farmers in Dutse, Jigawa, may record bumper harvest due to the projected rainfall patterns in its Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) for 2018.

Malam Muhammad Abdullahi, State Manager of NiMet, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednesday.

He said that the predictions of NiMet showed that Dutse would get rain on May 29 but “rains started falling from May 2, May 19 and May 11; which means the rains started before our prediction date.’’

Abdullahi said that with the positive development, farmers would have bumper produce harvests, not only in Dutse but also in other places across the state.

The meteorologist, however, urged farmers not to panic unnecessarily because of the inconsistent rainfall, saying that the rains would stabilise in due course.

“By our predictions, the rainy season will end in Dutse by Oct. 22; there would be 149 days of rainfall while 758 millilitres of rainfall are expected to be recorded,’’ he said.

Abdullahi, nonetheless, urged farmers in the state to plant only improved seeds which were climate-friendly to enable them to get good harvests. (NAN)
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Edited by Fela Fashoro and Dayo Komolafe

Police recruitment: Commission dismisses alleged filling of Jigawa quota with non-indigenes
Recruitment
Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, May 13 2018 (NAN) The Federal Character Commission (FCC) in Jigawa has dismissed the allegation making the rounds that the state’s vacant positions were filled with non-indigenes in the recent police recruitment across the country.
Malam Nura Abdullahi, the Coordinator of FCC in Jigawa, dismissed the allegation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Wednesday.
Abdullahi said that due process was followed during the screening of the applicants to ensure that only indigenes of the state were recruited.
“We made sure that it is only indigenes of Jigawa that were screened and only those who qualified wrote the examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“We also ensured that only those that passed were subsequently recruited.
“Relevant stakeholders including the FCC and the Police Service Commission were all involved in the exercise.
“So whoever is making an allegation that the quota of Jigawa indigenes were given to other people is not telling the truth,” he said.
Abddulahi challenge anybody saying otherwise to come up with proof of his or assertion. (NAN)
AIS/CEO/EMO
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Edited by Chidi Opara/Ejike Obeta

Toll
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Dutse, June 8, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Communication Commissions (NCC) has urged customers of telecommunication operators to lodge their complaints of unsatisfactory services through its 622 Toll-Free-Line.

Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the commission said this at the 95^th Edition of Consumers Outreach Programme in Dutse on Friday.

Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Consumers Affairs Bureau of the commission, Mrs Felicia Onwuegbuchulam said that the commission was disturbed with the various complaints from customers.

The complaints include unsolicited text messages and calls, failure/refusal to roll over unused data services at the expiration of data bundled by service providers.

Others are automatic renewal of data services upon expiration and activation, subscription to data and Value Added Services (VAS) without the consent of subscribers.

“It is in response to these complaints that the commission as a proactive institution has taken appropriate steps to address the issues raised,’’ she said.

Onwuegbuchulam said that the commission had issued directive to service providers to desist from forceful subscription of data services and VAS unless they got the consent of the customers.

“It is on this note that we develop 622 Toll-Free-Line for customers to lodges any unresolved complaints to us between them and their providers.’’

She said that failure to comply with the directive by any telecom provider would attract penalties by the commission.

“This is because we believe that a consumer is a king and as such he needs some basic rights and privileges like the right to be heard, right to be educated, right to choose, right to redress as well as right to safety.”

Onwuegbuchulam said that the Consumers Outreach Forum was an initiative of NCC to bring together telecom consumers in urban areas with network operators and regulators to discuss and offer solutions to consumer’s related issues.

“This is to ensure consumers have value for their money through effective service delivery,’’ he said.

Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Hadejia decried of the fluctuating nature of services by network providers.

Hadejia said that people had to climb mountains or go near network masts before they could make calls or send messages.

He urged the telecom providers to provide free network sites or provide some services at subsidised rates for e-learning as obtained in advanced society.

While commending the NCC for the tripartite meeting between consumers, telecomm operators and regulator, he urged telecom operators to build good networks for optimum advantage and utilisation for political, economic and social benefit of the customers. (NAN)
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Edited by Grace Yussuf