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Bandits, kidnappers effectively controlling 21 Local governments in Kaduna – Shehu Sani
Former Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani on Sunday revealed that Kaduna State is the biggest centre of banditry and kidnapping operations such that they control 21 out of 23 Local Governments effectively.
He said, it’s only two Local Governments in Kaduna metropolis that was left to be run by the government.
Sani spoke on AIT on Sunday while being featured by Signature Show which was monitored by CAPITAL POST in Abuja.
The Civil Rights activist lamented that government has been lacklustre in confronting criminal elements wreaking havoc on Nigerians all over the places, noting that government government can not claim to be providing infrastructure, while citizens are being maimed on daily basis.
He said: “No matter the infrastructural development you are able to achieve as a leader, once, the blood of your people is being spilled every day, you have not achieve anyhing.
“Once human life doesn’t matter, nothing matters. Look at what’s happening in Benue, killings every day every where. In Plateau the same thing, in Nasarawa, the same. Coming back to Kaduna, in the whole 23 Local Governments that we have, it only two which are located in the metropolis that kidnappings doesn’t take place. So where is the nation; where is the government; where is the country?
“Government that has responsibility of tackling these problems are also behaving hopeless and helpless.”
Reacting to the idea of negotiation, he said, “I don’t think negotiation can solve the problem completely, but it gives idea of the problem which you are being confronted with and it gives an opportunity to penetrate the bandits in order to destroy them.
He said over 300 villages have been displaced by criminal elements, while they are also targeting the well to do in the society.
“More than 300 villages in Niger and Kaduna States have been displaced. Close to Kotangora people are being killed and it doesn’t even stopped at poor people in our days.
“The son of the Emir of Kontangora was killed; the driver of Emir of Birni Gwari was killed. A lawmaker coming from Zamfara to Kano with his son has been killed and his son who was taken captive is still in captivity as we speak. A businessman was killed in Bauchi State; students, University lecturers, doctors lawyers, engineers, nobody is safe in this country again.
He wondered at how security agents have been defocused at the perilous time in the history of Nigeria, adding that they have delved into establishing personal businesses at the detriment of the nation.
“Then you ask yourself, a country that has Army, Police, Navy, Air force, Civil Defence and myriad of security agents, yet we can’t protect the people, we can’t protect the country, what kind of leaders we have?
“To me, if we are going to tackle these problems, we must unite as a country.
“Our sectional ethnic and religious division is simply destroying us and making it impossible and there is need for a national solidarity. We must unite as a country, whether these danger is herdsmen, whether these danger is banditry, whether this danger is terrorism so that we can do away with gunmen who are known and unknown that have declared war on Nigeria.
“From what I am seeing, it has become a business for some people in Nigeria. Billions upon billions are pumped into banditry and terrorism as ransom and there seems not to be an end in sight and from the side of government, hundreds of billions are being pumped into defence and security apparatus and it’s still not solving the problem.
“The minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed made a recent disclosure that she has released N1.3 trillion in 28 months to the Nigerian Army during the last Service Chiefs different from special approvals and allocations which they have been going to the President to get.
“From the beginning till date, security allocation has been the highest in our national budget.
“How can we be pumping millions of dollars without commensurate results? How can we be confronting bandits who are just using AK47, motorcycles and their phones and still be difficult? They are not that sophisticated.
“We need the political will, we need to unite as a country, we need to adopt technologies that will make it impossible for bandits to operate. Nigeria’s defence budget is fifty times higher than Niger Republic, yet, Niger is safer than Nigeria.
“Our security agents before the coming of the new Service Chiefs, what do they do? They’re all establishing Universities in their vvillages. Now security agents are building hotels and shopping malls and business units. Is that what security agencies supposed to do? To build hostels, shopping malls and building of Universities?
“What are we supposed to do as a country? We are over 211 million people. Niger is one and half rimes size of Nigeria. Algeria is a hundred times size of Nigeria in land mass, if they can secure their borders, we should be able to secure our border. I want leaders that would be strong on banditry, on armed herdsmen; and on terrorism.”
The Northern Senators Forum has expressed its sadness over the lynching of travelers in Uromi, Edo State, saying that they were taken aback over the gruesome killing of innocent Nigerians because of the zone where the victims came from.
The Forum was reacting to the attack that led to death of individuals on 27th March, 2025 while travelling to the Northern part of the country after they were tragically stereotyped as Fulani kidnappers and brutally murdered in a despicable manner.
The Forum in a statement issued by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Yar’adua strongly condemn the killing and described it as a heinous act which must be investigated with the culprits brought to book.
It read: “We strongly condemn this heinous act, which is a clear violation of the fundamental human rights of the victims. We urge the Edo State Government to take immediate action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators of this gruesome murder.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the police and other security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, with a view to arresting the culprits.
“This swift action demonstrates the government’s commitment to upholding justice and protecting the rights of all citizens.
“As stated in Section 41 of the Nigerian Constitution, every citizen has the right to freedom of movement and residence throughout the country. No citizen can be expelled from or refused entry into Nigeria. We must uphold these fundamental principles and ensure that all citizens are treated with dignity and respect.
“We call on the Edo State Government, the security agencies, and all stakeholders to work together to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. We must promote a culture of tolerance, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.”
The Ex-Head of Service of Rivers State, George Nwaeke has revealed how the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara ordered bombing of the State House of Assembly complex in 2023 to avoid impeachment moves by legislators loyal to Chief Nyesom Wike.
The governor who was suspended from office in the heat of crisis rocking the State however, swiftly denied the allegation and urged the public to disregard it.
The former HoS who resigned from office recently gave the revelation during a press briefing on Friday in Port Harcourt, adding that bag of money was allegedly handed over to the former House of Assembly leader, Edison Ehie, who later became Fubara’s Chief of Staff to attack the Assembly complex located along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
He said, “First, it all started with the Rivers State House of Assembly, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed his Chief of Staff (Edison Ehie) to burn down the Assembly to avert his impeachment. That evening, Edison was in Government House with two other boys, including the former Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, one Chijioke.
“I was there with them when a bag of money was handed over to Edison for that operation, though I do not know the amount inside. I want to tell the people of Rivers State today that the House of Assembly Complex on Moscow Road was deliberately brought down by Edison Ehie under the instructions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. I challenge him to an open confrontation, and I will provide more details.
“A day after that incident, I almost resigned, but I was very scared because I knew the power of a sitting governor. He knew that I was aware of the whole plan and that I was uncomfortable with the unconscionable act and his deliberate posture of innocence.
“Another attempt was also made to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members. If not for the press conference held there by Rivers youths, Rivers elders, and National Assembly members, that would have been another barbaric demolition in Rivers State.
“I realised that they actually wanted to demolish that second building because, weeks later, he personally told me that if he had known earlier, he would have pulled down their hall before targeting the residential quarters of the Assembly. He didn’t realise they had such a beautiful hall where they are now holding their sittings.
“I was shocked and asked myself: how could a man who wants to lead his people be destroying state assets and wasting public funds on a needless ego fight?”
Nwaeke stated that he resigned voluntarily, countering speculations that he was sacked or pressured to leave.
“With the load of misinformation in print and electronic media, I have chosen to set the record straight.
“I was not sacked, nor was I pressured to resign; I did it willingly from the depth of my heart,” he clarified.
Nwaeke further alleged that another attempt was made to destroy the residential quarters of the House of Assembly members but was thwarted by a press conference held by Rivers youths, elders, and National Assembly members.
According to him, Fubara had openly expressed a desire to demolish more state property, raising concerns about his leadership style.
He also claimed that Fubara had made comments about using the Ijaw people to influence Nigeria’s presidency, referencing control over oil pipelines and potential disruptions.
Reacting, Fubara denied the allegations levelled against him, asking Nigerians to disregard them.
The governor described Nwaeke’s allegations as “laughable” in a statement he signed on Friday.
“The truth is that Dr. Nwaeke has been compromised, and whatever he is saying is only aimed at fulfilling his promise to those who may have paid or coerced him to lie against me.
“I call on all well-meaning Nigerians and the good people of Rivers State to disregard everything said by Dr. Nwaeke as they are mere desperate attempts to discredit me and my administration, and undermine the peace process by Mr. President,” he said.
Overland Airways, Nigeria’s longest serving private domestic airline is pleased to announce the resumption of flight services from Abuja to Jalingo and return. Overland Airways has also introduced Lagos to Jalingo flights through Abuja.
Overland Airways has been the pioneer airline on the route for years but flight services were temporarily suspended in November 2024 due to expansion work at the airport. The airline is now set to reconnect the two cities providing passengers with convenient and reliable travel options.
Effective April 3, 2025, Overland Airways will resume three (3) weekly flights on the Abuja-Jalingo-Abuja route. The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays using Overland Airways’ brand-new Embraer 175 aircraft. Flights will depart Abuja to Jalingo at 10:00am and Jalingo to Abuja at 11:30am.
Passengers across Overland Airways network including Lagos, Akure, Ibadan, Minna and Ilorin, amongst others can connect to Jalingo through our hub in Abuja.
Capt. Edward Boyo, Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Executive of Overland Airways says: “We are excited to reintroduce our Abuja-Jalingo-Abuja services which will not only enhance connectivity but also boost economic activities in Taraba State in particular and the Northeastern region of Nigeria in general. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Governor of Taraba state, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas for his unwavering support and commitment to the development of the Danbaba Suntai Airport. We would like to also thank our customers for their patience and understanding and assure them of our usual excellent customer services.”
Jalingo has been a long existing route for Overland Airways, and for the very first time, Overland Airways will be operating our brand-new Embraer 175, a dual-class 88-seater modern jet aircraft featuring Premium class seats with spacious legroom and the regular Economy class on this route. We are keen on providing our Jalingo travellers with unparalleled convenience and comfort.
Overland Airways service offering has evolved from an all-turboprop fleet to a mixed fleet with the introduction of brand-new Embraer E175 jets. In October 2024, Overland Airways renewed its IOSA safety certification for the 5th consecutive time reaffirming its position as a safe and leading African carrier.
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