Category: Security - Page 67 - African News Today

Kankara Kidnap: Garba Shehu Apologises for Incorrectly Saying Only 10 Schoolboys were Abducted

18Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Kankara Kidnap: Garba Shehu Apologises for Incorrectly Saying Only 10 Schoolboys were Abducted

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has apologised to Nigerians for wrongly saying that only ten students were kidnapped at the Government Science School in Kankara, Katsina State. Heavily armed men invaded the school premises last Friday, kidnapping over 300 schoolboys after a gun battle with the police. Shehu after the attack said only 10 students were kidnapped. However, following the release of 344 students by the kidnappers on Thursday night contrary to Shehu’s claim, he has retracted his earlier statement. Shehu in a post on his verified Twitter handle on Friday said, "I apologise for the incorrect communication citing that only ten students were kidnapped at the science school, Kankara." "This communication o...

Breaking: Released Kankara Students Arrive Katsina

18Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Breaking News, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Breaking: Released Kankara Students Arrive Katsina

The abducted schoolboys of Government Science Secondary School released on Thursday night have arrived Katsina State, Punch reports. The schoolboys were led into the state capital by security operatives. The students, some of whom still wore school uniforms were received by Governor Aminu Masari in the Government House. Masari had on Thursday night confirmed the release of 344 abducted schoolboys, adding that the boys were at Tsafe, Zamfara State, and would be transported to Kankara today. According to the governor, the boys were released without payment of ransom. Masari added that the schoolboys would receive comprehensive medical attention before they are reunited with their families.

Kankara Abduction: Buhari Commends Masari, Army for Rescue Operation

18Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Boko Haram, News, Nigeria, Security, Terrorism

Kankara Abduction: Buhari Commends Masari, Army for Rescue Operation

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Nigerian Army for coordinating the rescue operation of hundreds of schoolboys kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State. The President noted that his administration and the military have more work to do to curtail the insecurity in the country. This was contained in two-part videos posted on his official Twitter handle, @MBuhari, on Friday. He also lauded Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari for his positive contributions since the kidnap of the schoolboys. Buhari said, “I spoke with the governor. I congratulated him and congratulated the Army that organised the operation, the encirclement of the abductors, and getting the children. The military is well-trained. I think they are sufficiently motivated...

BREAKING: Kidnapped Kankara Students Freed

17Dec

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Breaking News, Nigeria, Press Statement, Safety, Security, Terrorism, Violence

BREAKING: Kidnapped Kankara Students Freed

The Katsina State Government on Thursday night at about 9pm announced the release of the 333 boys of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara who were abducted when bandits invaded the School on Friday December 11, 2020. A statement from the Secretary to Government of Katsina State, Mustapha Mohammed Inuwa confirming the release of the boys said they are being transported to the Government House for presentation to the Governor.

Gov Ugwuanyi Advocates Citizen Engagement to Build Trust Between Police, Nigerians

16Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Gov Ugwuanyi Advocates Citizen Engagement to Build Trust Between Police, Nigerians

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has called for citizen engagement and robust communication strategies to build mutual trust and confidence between the police and the policed to facilitate the healing of all wounds after the EndSARS protests. Gov. Ugwuanyi who said that security provision has been a major plank of his administration added that the state government has established and resourced the Enugu State Forest Guard Security outfit as well as the Neighborhood Watch groups and went further to legislate the State Security Trust Fund to provide adequate resources for maintenance of security of lives and property. The governor made this known when declaring open the 4-day Intensive Capacity Building Workshop for all Police Spokespersons in Nigeria, holding in Enugu, with the ...

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...

Breaking: Senate Summons Defence Minister, Service Chiefs, Others Over Insecurity

15Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Breaking News, News, Nigeria, Security

Breaking: Senate Summons Defence Minister, Service Chiefs, Others Over Insecurity

Following the persistent insecurity across the country, the Senate, on Tuesday invited the Minister of Defence, the service chides, and heads of the Nigerian Police Force and the Department of State Service. The decision was reached following a motion moved by Senator Bello Mandiya from Katsina State on the recent kidnap of about 333 students of a secondary school in the state by bandits. The upper legislative chamber also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to commence the implementation of the report of the Senate Committee on Security challenges. Other members of the red chamber during their contribution to the motion, passed a vote of no confidence on the various heads of security agencies in the country over their failure to prevent the kidnap of the school children. The lawm...

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...