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Bandits  abduct Katsina monarch, 13 others

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Amid anxiety over the fate of abducted students of Government College, Kagara, Niger State, bandits struck again in neigbourbing Katsina State, abducting a monarch and 13 others in two separate attacks.

The gunmen were said to have kidnapped the 91-year-old traditional ruler of Kunduru community on Friday night.

Sunday Vanguard learned that the victim who is the Galadiman Kunduru is the father of the Secretary to Katsina State Government, Alhaji Kasimu Ibrahim.

The monarch was whisked away by the gunmen who stormed the town on motorcycles

One of his children who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the incident to Sunday Vanguard yesterday, adding that the incident had already been reported to the Police.

The nonagenarian was said to be having health challenges.

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Sources also said the abductors had not made any contact with the family.

As of press time, the Permanent Secretary could not be reached as phone calls to his mobile phone were not replied to.

When contacted, spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, Gambo Isah, said he was not aware of the incident.

“ I am not aware of that incident,” he told Sunday Vanguard.

In a related development, gunmen kidnapped 13 travellers in Faskari Local Government Area of the state.

The victims were made up of 12 women and the driver of the vehicle they were travelling in.

Isah also confirmed the incident, saying the bandits struck at 10: am on February 17, 2021.

He explained that the victims were travelling to Funtua from Mai Gora to collect loans from a bank provided through a family support programme.

The Police spokesman said three persons later escaped from the bandits.

He added that the Police were making efforts to ensure that abductees were rescued alive.

According to him, “it’s not true that seventeen women going for a wedding were abducted.

“What happened was that thirteen women from Mai Gora were travelling to Funtua for this family support loan facilities from a bank, somewhere before Dan Rimi village, these bandits came from the bush and shot at the tyres of the vehicle they were traveling in, forcing the driver to stop. Three women escaped while the remaining nine and the driver were abducted.

“We are making serious efforts to ensure that the nine women and the driver who are still in captivity are rescued alive. The incident happened at 10 a.m.”

Residents said the bandits were yet to contact any of the families of the victims as of press time.

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Insecurity:Sack Service Chiefs, Pastor Adeboye Urges FG

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has urged the federal government to give Nigeria’s security chiefs a 90-day deadline to eliminate terrorists across the country or resign from office.

Adeboye made the call in a video shared on X on Tuesday in which he expressed concern over the country’s security situation and urged authorities to act swiftly against those responsible for the violence.

Addressing the government, the cleric said security chiefs should be held accountable for delivering results in the fight against terrorism.

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“If I were asked to make suggestions, I would say quietly to our government, ‘Move fast and tell our security chiefs, get rid of these terrorists within 90 days or resign,” he said.

The cleric also called on the government to go beyond targeting terrorists and focus on those financing and supporting their activities.

“When giving orders to the service chiefs this time around, we should make it clear to them that they are not only to eliminate the terrorists; they should eliminate their sponsors, no matter how influential they may be,” he added.

Adeboye recalled advising a former Nigerian president to issue a similar ultimatum to security chiefs in the past, noting that although the directive was given, it was not fully enforced when the deadline elapsed.

According to him, the experience underscored the need for stronger political will and strict enforcement of directives aimed at ending insecurity.

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School Abductions: NUT Begins Nationwide Rally Today

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Public schools across Oyo State shut down Monday as teachers joined a nationwide protest called by the Nigeria Union of Teachers over the ongoing captivity of pupils and teachers abducted 18 days ago.

Armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, taking students and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.

Protests erupted in Oyo and Ogun states, with residents and civil society groups demanding immediate release of the victims.

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In Ogbomoso, a distraught mother whose children were among the kidnapped broke down in tears: “Where will I start from? The children are my tomorrow. Please help me.”

Teacher Ajibola Aboderin said: “How can anyone be so heartless as to kidnap a two-year-old? This country is deteriorating.”

Compliance with the strike was reported across all 33 local government areas of Oyo State. Parents turned children away from closed schools.

The union calls on federal and state governments to intensify security efforts and secure the captives’ release.

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Press centre Food Vendor Hajiya Hadiza Is Dead

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The Kano press community has been thrown into mourning following the death of Hajiya Hadiza, a popular food vendor.

Known for her warm personality and dedication to her business, Hajiya Hadiza reportedly passed away on Monday morning after a brief illness.

News of her death spread rapidly across the Press Centre, and environs on Monday, leaving many journalists, media workers and associates in shock.

Colleagues described the development as devastating, saying her absence would be deeply felt within the media community after nearly two decades serving meals to media practitioners and members of the public .

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For years, Hajiya Hadiza’s food stand was more than a place to eat. It served as a meeting point where reporters, editors and guests gathered for meals, conversations and moments of relaxation amid their demanding schedules.

Beyond her role as a food vendor, she was widely recognized for providing employment opportunities to young women, many of whom learned valuable skills and earned a livelihood through her business.

Several journalists who spoke on the development recalled her kindness, generosity and motherly disposition. They noted that she treated customers with respect and maintained strong relationships with people from different walks of life.

Members of the NUJ Press Centre described her as an integral part of the environment, saying her contributions over the years helped shape the social fabric of the press community. They prayed for Almighty Allah to forgive her shortcomings and grant her eternal rest.

As tributes continue to pour in, many say Hajiya Hadiza’s legacy will endure through the countless lives she touched, the young women she empowered and the memories she created among generations of journalists who passed through the Press Centre.

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