Category: Safety - Page 13 - African News Today

Kankara Kidnap: Bring Back Our Boys Now, Okonjo-Iweala Asks FG

16Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, Crime, Education, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, Youths

Kankara Kidnap: Bring Back Our Boys Now, Okonjo-Iweala Asks FG

Former Nigerian Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has told the Federal Government to intensify efforts to bring back the over 300 schoolboys kidnapped from the all-boys Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, State. She said those using the children as pawns must be held accountable. Okonjo-Iweala, who is a top contender for the job of director-general of the World Trade Organisation, disclosed this known in a post on Twitter last night. She wrote, “The abduction of more than 300 schoolboys in Katsina is heartbreaking. What a recurring nightmare. My heart goes out to the families of the missing boys. The authorities must do all possible to #BringBackOurBoys! Those using our children as pawns must be held accountable!” Armed men invade the school on Friday night an...

Ganduje Orders Closure of Schools in Kano

16Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Covid-19, Education, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

Ganduje Orders Closure of Schools in Kano

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has ordered the closure of all public and private schools in the state with immediate effect. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Sanusi Kiru, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Kano on Wednesday. The statement failed to state the reason for the closure of the schools, but reports suggest the development might be connected to the hike in cases of COVID-19 in some parts of the country, which has prompted the closure of schools in states such as Kaduna and Jigawa. The development might also not be unconnected to the recent kidnap of over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State which Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for. In the same ...

Boko Haram Claims Responsibility for Kidnapping Students in Katsina

15Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Boko Haram Claims Responsibility for Kidnapping Students in Katsina

The Leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau has claimed responsibility for the abduction of about 333 students in Katsina State last week. Shekau in an audiotape released on Tuesday said, “Our brothers were behind the abduction in Katsina,” Guardian reports. A group of men wielding sophisticated rifles on Friday night invaded the all-boys Government Science secondary school in the town of Kankara, abducting over 300 students. Recall that Boko Haram had in April 2014 abducted 276 girls from their school in Chibok, in north-eastern Borno State of which about 100 are yet to be released. The group has been involved in the kidnap of other schoolchildren and lots of people across the north-east and has recently expanded their tentacles. The audio, however, lacked detail on the involvem...

14Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety

26 Army Generals Test Positive as 417 Undergo COVID-19 Test

The Nigerian Army has disclosed that twenty six Army Generals and other senior officers have tested positive for COVID-19. Four hundred and seventeen are undergoing COVID-19 test after the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Major General Johnson Olu Irefin, died from COVID-19 complications during the annual Chief of Army Staff Conference in Abuja. Acting Director Army Public Relations Brigadier General Sagir Musa, in a statement disclosed that they now have, a total of 26 confirmed cases after 417 personnel were tested. According to the statement, all officers and soldiers working at the Army Headquarters are being tested, while “COVID-19 protocols are being strictly enforced across all units and formations of the NA.” He disclosed that the entire Army Headquarters complex “...

Insecurity: DSS Absolves Security Agencies of Blame, Asks Nigerians for Support

14Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Communication, Information Technology, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security

Insecurity: DSS Absolves Security Agencies of Blame, Asks Nigerians for Support

The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked Nigerians to rally support in checkmating insecurity rather than blaming the security agencies. The call was made by the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, in Abuja during the Security and Emergency Awards (SEMA 2020), where the organisation was conferred with an award by a security tabloid, Emergency Digest. Bichi who was represented by Peter Afunanya, service spokesperson said the support of the citizens was vital, especially in gathering intelligence. He stressed that was a need for Nigerians to recommit themselves to building a nation where the security of life and property is guaranteed. "We call on Nigerians to support security agencies and the government. Security is no longer for government and security agencies; there is...

Katsina Abduction: Gov Masari Confirms 333 Out of 839 Students Still Missing

13Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism, Violence

Katsina Abduction: Gov Masari Confirms 333 Out of 839 Students Still Missing

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Sunday confirmed that a total of 333 students of Government Science School, Kankara, Katsina State are missing following the bandits’ attack on Friday night. Masari disclosed this when he received a Federal Government delegation led by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno on Sunday, Channels Television reports. The governor while explaining that the school has a population of 839 students noted that those abducted cut across board as the school had students from all parts of the state and beyond the state. He said, “Based on the available record we have, we are still searching for 333 students through either the forest or their parents to ascertain the actual number that has been kidnapped,” “We are still counting because mor...

Katsina Abduction: Government Shuts Down Schools Indefinitely

13Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Violence

Katsina Abduction: Government Shuts Down Schools Indefinitely

The Katsina State government has ordered all schools in the state to bring to closure their third term for the 2019/2020 academic session. Schools were initially scheduled to end the current session next week but have been asked to shut down until further notice. This was contained in a statement by Sani Suleiman, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Education. The statement partly read, “This is to inform the general public especially principals, parents/guardians, proprietors of community and private schools that the third term for 2019/2020 academic session has come to an end today, Saturday 12th December, 2020. “Therefore, all public, community, and private schools are to remain closed till further notice.” The development has been linked to the Friday night bandits’ abduction of...

12Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, Nigeria, Safety

Covid-19: El-Rufai Goes into Isolation

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has gone into isolation following reports that an immediate family member and senior officials of the State Government tested positive for COVID-19. Mr El-Rufai is one of prominent Nigerians who tested positive for the virus in the earliest stages of the pandemic, which broke out in Nigeria in February. On Friday evening, Mr El-Rufai said he has been notified of more positive COVID-19 test results of persons close to him, including an immediate family member and senior officials of the Kaduna State Government. In the video broadcast shared via his verified social media pages, the governor said he is currently in self-isolation and hope to be tested by Sunday. “This is purely a precautionary move that complies with the standard COVID-19 pro...

BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu Tests Positive For COVID-19

12Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Covid-19, Nigeria, Safety

BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu Tests Positive For COVID-19

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has tested positive for coronavirus. The state health commissioner, Akin Abayomi announced this on Saturday. African News Today had earlier reported that the governor had gone into isolation on Friday following contact with persons infected with the virus. Abayomi said the Governor is currently experiencing “mild symptoms and fatigue typical of a mild case of COVID.” In a statement, he added that Sanwo-Olu is receiving treatment and is being closely monitored at home by a clinical team from the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba. “Mr. Sanwo-Olu is doing well on treatment and rest and we are confident that he will recover quickly and clear the virus,” the statement said.

Buhari Condemns Bandits’ Attack on Katsina School

12Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Safety, Security, Terrorism

Buhari Condemns Bandits’ Attack on Katsina School

President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the attack by bandits at the Government Science School, Kankara in Katsina State where students were allegedly taken captive. This was contained in a statement released by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “President Buhari strongly condemns bandit’s attack on Katsina school.” Buhari directed the immediate deployment of officers of the Nigeria Police force and the Nigerian Army to track down the attackers to ensure that no student gets missing or harmed. The president asked the school authorities to carry out an audit of the population of the students following sporadic shootings reported in and around the school that lead to scores of students fleeing to safety. He also urged parents a...