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Again, bandits invade Niger, Kill 30 Villagers

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Armed men suspected to be marauding bandits operating from Kainji Lake National Park forest along Kabe District in Borgu local government area of Niger State, have set a village market ablaze, killed 30 villagers and abducted scores.

It was learnt that the bandits invaded the market called Kasuwan Daji located at Demo village via Kabe where they did not only set the market ablaze but looted people’s wares especially food items, shot at the villagers and abducted many of them through the path to the expansive Kainji Lake National Park forest.

Confirming the development the Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Wasiu Abiodun, said: “A joint security team has visited the scene and over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, some were kidnapped, efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnap victims.”

Details Later…

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Kidnapped Niger students, teachers now 315 – CAN, Catholic Diocese

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The number of kidnapped students and teachers in Niger State is now 315. The Catholic Diocese of of Kontagora gave the update on Saturday.

Also, the Church denied ever receiving government order to close down school: “It just a way to shift blame.”

Earlier, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Niger State chapter, Most Rev Bulus Yohanna, disclosed same figures.

He said following a verification exercise and further inquiries, the number of abducted students was updated to 303, with the total number of victims now 315, including 12 teachers.

He made the revelation in a statement released on Saturday through his media aide, Daniel Atori, saying the increase came after a verification exercise and final census.

“The total number of victims abducted from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area is now 303 students and 12 teachers.

“At present, 303 students, both male and female, and 12 teachers — four female and eight male — remain abducted, bringing the total number of victims to 315.

“The school’s enrolment stands at 629, with 430 in the primary section and 199 in the secondary,” he added.

On directive for closure from the state government, the Bishop said: “Contrary to rumours, no circular or warning was received from the government or security agencies.

“This narrative appears to be an afterthought aimed at shifting blame. In 2022, when security concerns arose, the school shut down immediately. We have always complied with security advisories, whether formal or informal.

“The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese, not any individual. No Reverend Sisters travelled to Abuja, as alleged.

“Anyone making such claims should provide proof or retract the statements. Our Education Secretary confirmed he received no circulars, written or verbal, and the National Association of Private Schools also received none.”

 

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Again, terrorists invade Catholic School in Niger, kidnap students, staff

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

An unconfirmed number of students and staff have been abducted at St. Mary’s School, a Catholic institution in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Details of the abduction remain sketchy, but sources told Daily Trust that many students were taken during a raid on the school.

A source from one of the Catholic churches in Niger State confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, noting that the school was still compiling its records.

“Yes, it is true, but I am not in a position to give details. The church will issue an official statement later in the day,” he said.

When contacted, the Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said he would provide details later.

However, the Head of Department, Disaster and Relief, Agwara Local Government, Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, confirmed the attack via telephone.

He said the terrorists stormed the school between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., adding that the actual number of abducted students and staff had yet to be determined as authorities continue their assessments.

The incident comes just days after a similar attack in Maga, Kebbi State, where 25 students were kidnapped, heightening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across the region.

 

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Niger community gets power supply after 40 years in darkness

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

The North South Power Company Limited has connected the Eddah community in the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger to the national grid after over 40 years of living in darkness.

Mr Olubunmi Peters, Executive Vice Chairman of NSPCL, stated this at the inauguration of the project on Tuesday in Niger.

Peter, also the Chief Executive Officer of NSPCL, said Eddah was given a 300 KVA electrification sub-station project to provide electricity to members of the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the project was executed by NSPCL Foundation as part of its corporate social responsibility to host communities within its operations.

Peters, represented by Mr Hassan Abdullahi, Consultant to NSPCL on CSR, emphasised the importance of access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is not merely a goal in itself; it is the key that unlocks the door to achieving many other SDGs

“UNDP report shows that a 10 per cent increase in energy access can reduce poverty by about six per cent in Africa,” he said.

The vice chairman disclosed that the foundation plans to implement additional projects in the community, including a rice mill project in the community.

He said that the foundation was working to touch all aspects of the SDGs, including building and renovating schools, health facilities, and water infrastructure.

Peters reiterated the foundation’s commitment to providing sustainable and reliable electricity for all and also added value to people’s lives across the host community.

He advised the community to take ownership of the project and protect it against vandalism while emphasising the importance of community participation in ensuring the project’s sustainability.

Also speaking, Mr Chioke Ugochukwu, Chief Operating Officer of SPCL, said the project was aimed at providing dignity to individuals.

“Today, the Eddah community is dignified through the electrification project that brings electricity to the doorstep of the community.

“The project brings about illumination, speed of life, economic empowerment of individuals, happiness, small-scale industry, and above all improvement in security,” he said.

 

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New Terrorist Group ‘Mahmuda’ Occupies Parts of Kwara and Niger States, Emir Raises Alarm

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Emir of Yashikira, Umoru Seriki, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, is distressed that concerned authorities have abandoned communities under attacks by a terror group named ‘Mahmuda’ allegedly occupying some parts of the Kwara North Senatorial District and Niger State.

Reacting to the development in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Sunday, Seriki lamented that “the situation is that we are totally demoralized, we are not happy with what the authorities are saying that there is no presence of terrorists in our domains.

“We are not happy and we feel abandoned by the government and left on our own, but as the situation is, we have no choice than to continue to defend ourselves.

“It is very unfortunate that we have complained about this thing earlier and nobody seems to pay attention to our plight.”

The attacks, according to the traditional ruler, are not only in Baruten and Kaiama local governments of Kwara state, but also Borgu Kingdom in Niger State.

Seriki, while confirming last week’s attacks by the terrorists, disclosed that the security vehicle bought by the people for operations by the vigilantes was bombed by the terrorists.

“We are just lucky that our vigilantes survived the attacks though some suffered some bruises.

“The casualties we suffered were not actually 15, but we suffered some casualties and the terrorists also suffered some casualties.

“So that is the situation, what the social media is actually reporting is the truth, we are just praying to God to help and protect us in the current situation we are facing,” he added.

DAILY POST recalls that the Kwara State Police Command last week refuted alleged emergence of a terror group named ‘Mahmuda’ within Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas of the state.

The command also categorically dismissed the claim that 15 vigilantes have been killed by the terror group, describing it as false and devoid of any factual basis.

A statement by the spokesperson of the command, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, in Ilorin on Saturday, said comprehensive and continuous threat assessments, intelligence surveillance, and tactical reconnaissance operations in the said areas have yielded no evidence of insurgent activity, coordinated terrorist formations, or mass casualty incidents as described.

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6 people confirmed dead as another petrol fuel tanker explodes in Niger

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Six people have been confirmed dead in a fuel tanker explosion that rocked Karami Rami, Babban Rami Ward, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

It was gathered that the vehicle was transporting fuel to the state when it skidded off the road and made a spill after an overturn.

Eyewitnesses said the incident happened due to the bad condition of the road along the Makera-Bokani-Sabon Pegi area of the state.

The affected tanker was said to be heading to Kontagora area when the explosion occurred and killed bystanders on the road.

Confirming the incident, Abdullah Arah, the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said response was delayed due to communication challenges.

He added that the agency also has a delay in receiving a comprehensive report from those in the field on the matter.

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BREAKING: Again, Petrol tanker explodes in Niger

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Another fuel-laden tanker has exploded at Kusogbogi in Agaie Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

Daily Trust reports that the scene of the incident is a boundary between Agaie and Lapai LGAs.

Sources told our correspondent that the disaster happened around 6pm on Tuesday but no life was lost.

A resident of Lapai, Mallam Mahmud Abubakar, said the tanker fell and engulfed in fire while trying to overtake another truck.

Abubakar further revealed that a tanker exploded on the spot last week.

While attributing Tuesday’s incident to overspeeding and loss of control, he said last week’s explosion occurred when the tanker rammed into a stationary truck packed by the road, causing both trucks to burn.

Leading reporters earlier reported that a devastating fuel tanker explosion that occurred over a week ago at Dikko in Gurara LGA of Niger State, left at least 98 person dead, with many others severely injured.

The tragedy occurred when residents gathered to collect spilled fuel, which suddenly ignited, causing a massive blast.

In response to the disaster, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed that 20 victims be transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for advanced medical care.

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Niger Residents Scoop Oil From Another faulty Tanker Days After Explosion Killed 96

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Just two days after over 90 people were burnt to death in a tanker explosion that also left scores injured in Niger State, residents massed around another fallen truck in another community.

The fresh incident occurred in Bida town on Monday.

In a widely circulated video online, young persons were seen milling around the broken down truck.

While some managed to scoop, others fled in different directions, apparently to prevent being caught up in an unfortunate situation.

Premium Times quoted a resident, Yinusa Jiya, as saying, “The people were not even afraid despite earlier assumption that it was petrol.”

Another eyewitness, Fatimah Mohammed, told the newspaper that the tanker was carrying groundnut oil.

“It fell around AYM Shafa filling station yesterday (Monday) and residents stole huge amounts of the groundnut oil dripping from the tanker”, she added.

The development came two days after the deadly tanker explosion that killed about 98 people around Dikko Junction, Gurara LGA, Niger State.

Daily Trust reports that the death toll from the deadly explosion has been on the rise as some persons who sustained injuries died in the hospitals where they were being treated.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while reacting to the situation, mandated the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to step up a campaign against scooping during such a situation.

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) said it was worried by the casualty figures and magnitude of burns.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) said 86 bodies were mass-buried on Sunday.

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300 passengers involved in Niger boat mishap, 150 rescued – NSEMA

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed a report that a boat conveying no fewer than 300 passengers capsized on River Niger upstream, Jebba Dam, at Gbajibo community in Mokwa Local Government Area.

It stated that so far about 150 travellers have been rescued, while efforts are on to rescue the remaining persons.

The incident occurred last night, October 1, 2024, about 8:30 pm.

The agency in a statement signed by its Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah said the boat was sailing from Mundi community with a population of almost 300 passengers.

He explained that the travellers were mostly women and children for the Maulid celebration at Gbajibo.

The DG disclosed that currently, NSEMA is directing and monitoring search and rescue operations in collaboration with the State Ministry of Transport, Mokwa Local Government Emergency Committee, brave local divers, and other community volunteers.

“However, thanks to the prompt response from the community volunteers; over 150 persons have been rescued alive so far.

“The search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate more survivors, and the general public will be provided with the update,” the agency added.

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BREAKING: Bandits attack military base in Niger State

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

At least two soldiers sustained injury when terrorists attacked a military base in Tegina, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

One of the bandits was reportedly killed in the gun duel with soldiers during the attack that happened on Monday.

Sources said the terrorists were crossing to Mashegu and Wushishi Local Government Areas when they launched the attack.

Chairman, Rafi Local Government Council, Alhaji Ayuba Usman Katako, who confirmed the incident, said the injured soldiers were responding to treatment at IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.

He called for prayers and support from communities through useful information to enable the security agencies fight the attackers.

Niger is one of the worst-hit states by attacks from non-state actors.

Two months ago, two officers and four soldiers were killed in an ambush in the Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

The troops were ambushed while on a fighting patrol to Karaga Village in the Shiroro.

The Niger State Deputy Governor, representative of the COAS, GOC and other senior officers had visited two wounded soldiers who received medical attention at the Military Hospital and subsequently paid condolence visit to the families of the deceased.

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