Crime

Remaining Abducted FUDMA Students Rescued

By Web News 282

By Isma’il Adamu

The four remaining abducted female students of the Federal University Dustinma in Katsina State have been rescued after seventy-three days in captivity.

The university’s Vice Chancellor, Profẹssor Armaya’u Bichi disclosed this to newsmen in Dustsinma shortly after the rescue operation by a combined team of security agencies.

Professor Bichi explained that the students were on their way to Abuja where they would be taken to the Office of the National Security Adviser for security interviews and medical examinations before they would be reunited with their families.

The Vice Chancellor who declined to give details of how the rescue operation was conducted, maintained that no ransom was paid to secure the release of the abducted students.

He thanked the police and other security agencies as well as the Office of the National Security Adviser for ensuring the safe release of all five abducted female students.

It would be recalled that the five FUDMA students were abducted on October 3, when gunmen invaded their rented apartment in Katsina metropolis at midnight.

Meanwhile, one of the students was rescued earlier, in November, and had since been reunited with her family.

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Human Angle

Katsina Bandits Attack Victims get Compensation

By Web News 278

In response to the recent tragedy in Danmusa Local Government Area, the Katsina State government has taken steps to aid the families affected by the bandit attacks.
Over N50 million so far has been disbursed as support to both the families of security personnel and civilians who suffered during the onslaught across the state.

During the disbursement exercise of a total of N4.2 million for victims in Danmusa, held at Government Secondary School Yantumaki on Thursday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Katsina Governor on Victims of Banditry and Internally Displaced Persons, Alhaji Saidu Danja announce the distribution plan.

He detailed that families of security personnel received N500,000 each, while civilians received N200,000 each. Additionally, those injured during the attacks received N50,000 each. Alhaji Saidu emphasised that this financial aid aimed not to compensate but to alleviate their hardships.

Expressing condolences on behalf of Governor Dikko Umar Radda, Alhaji Saidu sympathised with the victims and reiterated the government’s commitment to combating banditry. He warned against youth involvement as informants and urged collective efforts in safeguarding communities.

Chairman of Danmusa Local Government, Alhaji Sanusi Dangi Abbas, commended Governor Radda for the generous support and reminded the community of the shared responsibility for security.

Acknowledging the government’s gesture, the Magajin Mallam of Katsina District Head of Yantumaki, Alhaji Darda’u Abubakar, described it as unprecedented.

Grateful beneficiaries also expressed their appreciation to the state government for the assistance.

Furthermore, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yaradua, representing Katsina Central, disbursed an additional N1.65 million to families of the deceased and injured. His representative, Alhaji Umar Faruq Abubakar, outlined the distribution, allocating N100,000 to families of the deceased and N20,000 to the injured.

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Security

Air Force Kills 22 Terrorists in Katsina

By Web News 353

No fewer than 22 terrorists have been killed during an air operation conducted by Air Force personnel in Katsina State.

Among those killed are foot soldiers of terrorist kingpin, Abdulkareem Lawal, popularly known as Abdulkareem Boss.

Abdulkareem Boss was alleged of masterminding the killing of a Nigerian Police Area Commander in Dutsin-Ma on July 5, 2022.

Abdulkareem Boss with some of his foot soldiers was killed by air strikes in the Ruga forest in Katsina on August 5, 2022.

A military source on Thursday, however, said the attack that resulted in the death of the terrorists was based on intelligence received by troops.

The source said, “Over 22 terrorists mostly made up of foot soldiers of the deceased notorious terrorists’ kingpin Abdulkareen Lawal, aka Abdulkareen Boss, were on Monday, July 17, 2023, neutralised by air strikes conducted by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji at Batsari and Sola Poi II in Batsari and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

“The strikes were executed following credible intelligence reports that the terrorists were responsible for several abductions and violent attacks on some communities within Kankara LGA of Katsina State.”

Punch / Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Security

FG Begins Data Collection for Terrorism Victims

By Web News 442

Federal Government has commenced the collection of data of people affected by the prevailing insecurity in some Local Government Areas of Katsina State.

Report says that the data is being collected by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The team leader, Nadia Muhammed-Soso, said the aim was to mainstream the victims into all National Social Investment Programmes.

Muhammed-Soso, who heads the ministry’s Special Duties Department, was represented by Funke Olatunji.

She said during a sensitisation on the survey, that the victims had suffered enough and required life-changing support.

“It is a fact that insecurity in Nigeria has continued to restrict access to basic services and both affected people and host communities require emergency support and other necessary humanitarian assistance.

“To this end, the ministry whose mandate is to provide assistance for vulnerable groups in Nigeria has realised the enormous challenges faced by the victims of terrorism across Nigeria and has commenced a pilot phase of sensitisation and survey of the victims,” she said.

Culled / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Security

Katsina Youths Protest Incessant Terror Attacks

By Web News 542

Some youths on Thursday took to the streets protesting over what they described as incessant terror attacks in various parts of Katsina metropolis. The youths who were on the major streets of the State capital marched through Shola Quarters and Nacenta village near Army Barracks.

The youths lamented that security agencies have remained helpless and unable to tame the excesses of bandits. 

In his reaction to the incessant attacks by bandits Katsina, Deputy Speaker Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki appealed to security agencies to rise up to the challenge and take the fight to the bandit’s hideouts.

Taofoki decried the bandits attacks, saying terrorists have taken over every part of the State.

Meanwhile, the Katsina House of Assembly is expected to meet state Governor Aminu Masari and President Muhammadu Buhari over the issue of insecurity in the State.

The Chairman of Katsina House of Assembly committee on Information, Ali Al-Baba during a press briefing expressed the Assembly’s concern over the worsening insecurity in the State.

Al-Baba said the Assembly is worried about receiving daily reports of terrorist attacks across the State.

He described the current insecurity in the state as unacceptable, calling for urgent measures to tame the situation.

Vanguard/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Parish Priest, 3 Others Kidnapped in Katsina

By Web News 605

Bandits, in the early hours of Wednesday, attacked Mai Kanbu Catholic Church Parish in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State and kidnapped the Parish Priest and three other persons from the parish.

According to a reliable source, the assailants who were in large number sneaked into the parish quietly before they began to shoot sporadically and eventually went away with the victims.

Aside the Mai Kanbu Parish Priest, Father Stephen Ojapah, another priest identified as Father Oliver was also kidnapped by the terrorrists, the source said.

When Vanguard contacted the spokesman of the Katsina Police Command, SP Gambo Isah to confirm the report, he said: “I am yet to receive this report. When I receive the details and it is true, I will get back to you.”

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko