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SAD! 500 Kaduna households displaced after bandits’ invasions – CDA chairman
The Chairman of the Kauru Local Government Area Community Development Associations, Abel Adamu, has disclosed that over 500 households have been displaced in different attacks by bandits.
The CDA chairman, who made this disclosure on Sunday at a press briefing in Kaduna, said the recent surge in violence and attacks in the area has resulted to the loss of many lives, displacement of people, and destruction of properties.
He also explained that the cases of abduction of innocent people in the area were alarming and thus called for concerted security efforts to nip the ugly situation in the bud.
Adamu recalled that just last Friday, a woman was killed by her abductors in the Kiffin Chawai after paying the ransom as demanded by the bandits.
He said the recent violent attacks resulted in the displacement of thousands of visitors and residents in Kumana and Kauru chiefdoms, even as several others in the Dokan Karji, Bandi, Rumaya, Kwassam, Kaibi, Kusheka, Geshere, and Binawa, axis, among others.
“This is uncalled for, and we plead for immediate action from the government to ensure the safety and security of our people,” Adamu stated.
Arewa PUNCH reports that the Kauru Local Government Area, known for its farming activities, has now become a hotspot for banditry, crippling the economic activities.
“The latest assault on residents underscored the deteriorating security situation in the region,” he insisted.
“As a community, we have tried to address these issues through our initiatives, such as neighbourhood watch programs and community policing.
“However, the situation has deteriorated to a point where we require immediate intervention from the relevant security agencies and the global community.
“To address this issue, we are calling on the government to establish two military bases, one each in Kauru and Kumana chiefdoms.
“These military bases will provide a permanent security presence in the area, helping to deter attacks and provide a sense of security for the local population, who are now sleeping with their two eyes opened in fear of the unknown.
“While thanking the government for the establishment of a military base in Chawai chiefdom, we also want to call for the provision of more security personnel to address the pockets of attacks being witnessed in some parts of the chiefdom,” Adamu appealed.
According to him, as law-abiding citizens, the communities are willing and ready to work closely and cooperate with the government in its quest towards restoring lasting peace in the local government area.
However, the CDAs Chairman commended the Kaduna State Governor for the ongoing construction of the Pambegua to Kauru Road project to a credible and competent contractor.
He noted that the Kauru Local Government area which is made up of Kauru, Kumana, and Chawai Chiefdoms had been without good and access roads for over three decades, such that people coming from the Chawai axis would have to travel hundreds of kilometers, through Saminaka in the Lere Local Government Area to Pambegua in Kubau Local Government Area due to lack of access roads.
He stressed further that this singular factor has also been a contributing factor to the delay in the swift response needed by the operatives of Operation Safe Haven, located in Kafanchan, as the team have to travel nine to ten hours before arriving the scene of any attack in the Local Government Area.
“It is in the light of this that we are advocating the extension of the construction of the Pambegua – Kauru Road to Kwassam, Geshere, and Mariri to link communities from the three chiefdoms and ease transportation problems faced by the people, especially during the rainy season.
“This will not only improve the economic prospects of the area but also enhance the security of the people by providing easier access to security personnel and emergency services,” Adamu clarified.
The CDA Chairman, while commendiñg the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, for facilitating a military barrack in Southern Kaduna, saying that, upon completion of the project, “it would help in addressing the myriads of security challenges bedevilling the region.
Finally, “We want to use this opportunity to commend the relentless efforts of the chairman, Kauru Local Government Area, Alhaji Bashir Tanko Dawaki, our representatives at both the national and state assembly, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, Hon. Mukhtar Zakari Chawai, and Hon. Barnabas Haruna Danmaigona, for working round the clock to ensure the security of lives and property of the people.”
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has been confirmed as Governor by the Edo Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
He had earlier won on September 21, 2024 on the political cum electoral turf when he clinched the first prize.
He defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, his closest competitor, who was banking on the power of incumbent PDP administration in the state to win.
Ighodalo and the PDP had filed their petition at the Tribunal challenging Okpebholo and APC’s victory at the poll.
But delivering its judgement in the petition on Wednesday, the Edo Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal ruled that PDP petition failed for lack of competent witnesses
The Tribunal said that the PDP petition challenging the outcome of the 2024 governorship election also failed, because of insufficient evidence to substantiate claims of electoral malpractice.
The petitioners had alleged that the failure to properly record electoral materials prior to the election had affected the results.
However, the Tribunal found that while documents were submitted, no witnesses were called to properly authenticate them, rendering the evidence inadmissible.
Of the 19 witnesses presented by the petitioners, 14 were ward and local government agents, while their star witness, who claimed to be a director of strategy, played no direct role in the conduct of the election.
The Tribunal noted that none of these witnesses provided testimony on the alleged failure of prior recording of electoral materials, deeming them incompetent to testify on the matter.
Furthermore, the Tribunal emphasized that for allegations of over-voting to be proven, petitioners must provide oral evidence, in line with the precedent set by the Supreme Court.
It stressed that it was bound to adhere strictly to the Supreme Court’s roadmap in adjudicating election disputes.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, following credible intelligence.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said that its officers arrested 51 illegal migrants from Mali in New Nyanya, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The NIS made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, ACI A.S. Akinlabi.
According to the statement, the arrests took place on Monday, March 31, 2025, following credible intelligence.
A breakdown of the arrested migrants revealed that 11 were female, while 40 were male, with ages ranging between 16 and 19 years.
Akinlabi stated that preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested illegal migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), as they were found without valid travel documents or residence permits.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by the Service suggest that the migrants may have been victims of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM), as they were found without valid travel documents or residence permits,” Akinlabi stated.
The statement further noted that the detained individuals have been taken into the custody of the Service for further profiling and investigation.
“The arrested individuals have been taken into the custody of the Service for further profiling and investigation to determine the circumstances of their migration and any potential involvement of trafficking or smuggling networks or syndicates,” Akinlabi added.
Akinlabi further stated that the NIS would determine the circumstances surrounding their migration and uncover any potential involvement of trafficking or smuggling syndicates.
The statement added, “The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are protected against illegal migration while upholding the rights of migrants who comply with the country’s immigration laws.
“The Service continues to work closely with relevant authorities and stakeholders to combat smuggling of migrants and counter trafficking in persons effectively.
“The NIS reassures the general public of its unwavering commitment to National Security and Migration Management while encouraging citizens to report suspicious migration activities to the nearest NIS Commands and Formations.”
The remains of an engineer, Chigozie Udalu, have been exhumed from a shallow grave in Akwukwu-Igbo, the headquarters of Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State.
Recall that the engineer, who was contracted to construct offices in Akwukwu-Igbo, was murdered and buried in a shallow grave.
Though the incident occurred in December 2024, details only emerged recently after two suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Assailants Murder Construction Engineer In Delta State Community, Bury In Shallow Grave
A community source revealed that the suspects, identified as Tiv youths from Benue State, allegedly killed the engineer and concealed his body on a farm.
“Two Tiv boys from Benue State have been arrested in connection with the crime. They buried the engineer’s remains in a shallow grave on a farm,” the source stated.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesman Edafe Bright acknowledging that an investigation was ongoing.
“We are aware of the incident, and our men are working to ensure others involved are apprehended,” Bright revealed.
On Wednesday, the remains of the victim were exhumed by the police and the Delta State government.
A police source revealed that the arrested suspects alleged the engineer owed them money and often verbally abused them.
“They had also intended to steal cement from the site but perceived the engineer as an obstacle. On December 10, 2024, they planned to strike him with a 2×2 plank but assumed he was physically strong and might overpower them.
“On December 11, the Tiv boys put a rope around his neck from behind, causing strangulation. Upon his death, they buried him in a shallow grave on the farm,” the source explained.
“Following the murder, the suspects reportedly completed their contract at the site and stole the victim’s phone, making several attempts to transfer money via a mobile app.
“Additionally, the landlord of the construction site was accused of being involved in money rituals. In an attempt to clear his name, he was taken to shrines to swear an oath before the victim’s family.
“The landlord recounted his ordeal, stating that he nearly gave up on the case due to the challenges he faced with the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Asaba.
“However, a police officer suggested he visit Ekpan Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Aliyu Shaba. The officer assured him that within 30 days, the truth would be uncovered.
“Upon arrival at Ekpan, the landlord briefed the DPO, who assembled his team and employed sophisticated investigative techniques, leading to the arrest of two suspects.
“One of the suspects later confessed to knowing the location where the engineer was buried,” the source said.
A young man was also arrested and transferred to the SCID for openly threatening the victim in the presence of the landlord, further highlighting the brutality of the crime.
Of the four individuals arrested, two are considered principal suspects. Meanwhile, a manhunt is ongoing for the remaining suspects who are still at large.
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